Date:20/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/20/stories/2006012005930500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Deve Gowda's hand seen in political crisis

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday alleged that the Janata Dal (S) Working President H.D. Kumaraswamy withdrew support to the coalition government on "at the behest of Mr. Deve Gowda" who is the "director, producer, distributor and script writer of the entire political drama."

Reacting to questions of presspersons here, Mr. Siddaramaiah, who is leading the AIPJD, criticised the stance of Mr. Deve Gowda in declaring continued support to the coalition government. With the JD (S) deciding to align with the BJP, Mr. Deve Gowda lost his face. "Mr. Deve Gowda is politically dead" he said and predicted that his party would not secure more than four seats in the next Assembly elections. After losing in the taluk and zilla panchayat elections, the JD (S) leaders had no stomach to face the next political battle, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

The JD (S) had lost its "secular" character by aligning with the BJP, he said and claimed that he headed the "real" Janata Dal.