Date:31/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/31/stories/2006013103640400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

I want to lead Congress in House: Shivakumar

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The former Minister D.K. Shivakumar, MLA, said on Monday that he is interested in becoming Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly to take on the challenge posed by the Chief Minister-designate, H.D. Kumaraswamy, who said he wants to teach a lesson to the Congress for "insulting" his father and Janata Dal (S) MLAs.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Shivakumar said many Congress workers and leaders, including MLAs, have expressed their desire that he should lead them in the Assembly. He said he has not forgotten how the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda "harassed" Congress workers using his "clout" with Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh in the past 20 months.

Mr. Shivakumar said Mr. Deve Gowda is his opponent and not Mr. Kumaraswamy. The former Prime Minister is angry that he defeated him in the Kanakapura Lok Sabha constituency.

Mr. Deve Gowda vowed to send him and the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna to jail, and he is ready to face the challenge, he added.