National

Gowda unhappy with BJP setting deadline

BANGALORE: The former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda, on Tuesday took a swipe at the Bhartiya Janata Party for setting a deadline for his son, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, to resign and pave way for power transfer in Karnataka.

“Nobody can give me deadlines. It is only my party which is empowered to set deadlines for me,” Mr. Gowda, who was irked by the BJP’s demand, told PTI here.

“Did BJP form this government with my consent?,” he said, referring to the deadline set by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Monday that Mr. Kumaraswamy submit his resignation to the Governor and also pledge JD (S) support to enable Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa form the next government.

On whether he would hold parleys with senior BJP leaders, including party president Rajnath Singh, Mr. Gowda said he would be in Delhi only on October 5 to attend the JD (S)’s Political Affairs Committee convened to discuss the power transfer issue.

“As the head of a political party, I have to take certain decisions, which I will do.” He also accused some BJP leaders of ‘humiliating’ him and his family members.

The party has also called a meeting of state unit office bearers and executive committee on October 4 to elicit views on power transfer.

Mr. Gowda said his presence was required in that conclave also. Sources close to him said Mr. Singh had a telephonic talk with him on Monday night and invited him for parleys in Delhi, so that the contentious issues could be sorted out. — PTI

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