Kharge should have been made CM long back: Kumaraswamy

Kalaburagi (KTK): Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said Congress veteran M Mallikarjuna Kharge should have been given the top post in the state a long time ago and alleged

injustice was done to the veteran leader.

His remarks at a public meeting attended by Kharge comes amidst a bitter spat between the leaders of Congress and JD(S) over the growing demand from a section of the national party's MLAs that Siddaramaiah be made the chief minister once again.

Kumaraswamy is leading the Congress-JDS coalition government in the state.

"Mallikarjun Kharge should have been the Chief Minister long back.. I feel injustice has been done to him.. I would like to clearly say that Kharge has not been given recognition for all the work he has rendered," Kumaraswamy said at a meeting in Chincholi on Tuesday.

Siddaramaiah, Coalition Coordination Committee Chairman, had termed the growing clamour within his party to make him the Chief Minister once again as an expression of supporters' "affection," but said he still stood by his word of not contesting the next assembly polls.

Chincholi assembly seat is going for by-polls on May 19.