Bengaluru: On Monday, Ramdas Athawale, president of the Union Social Justice Minister and Republican Party of India(A), said the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka would not last long and asked Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to join hands with the BJP for the state's welfare.

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Referring the Congress as "casteist", he said that party president Rahul Gandhi should not dream about becoming Prime Minister. "Kumaraswamy is upset, I request him — why are you behind the Congress when the BJP-JD(S) coalition government can be formed?", Athawale told reporters here.

While stating that there was such a proposal earlier, he said, "Congress was clever, it supported Kumaraswamy and made him CM, but Kumaraswamy is crying, he is not happy with Congress leaders. So I feel this government will not last long."  "Kumaraswamy has to come back to the BJP and if Karnataka's development has to happen... Kumaraswamy has to leave Congress and come back. Staying with the BJP will benefit as Modiji's government is coming (to power) with the NDA securing over 350 seats" he added.

Athawale said, "You will become the deputy chief minister... He (Kumaraswamy) is not happy with the Congress... as deputy chief minister he would be happier than now (as chief minister)." "Asked if he would mediate between BJP and JD(S) leaders, he said after the Lok Sabha elections, "we can try, because if the Modi government comes, then I doubt that Kumaraswamy will be safe (as chief minister)," Athawale said eradication of poverty was something only Modi could do and not Rahul Gandhi and the Congress president should not dream about becoming Prime Minister.

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