Date:04/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110460910900.htm

National

Ball in JD(S) court, says Congress

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday maintained that it had a hands-off approach towards the political developments in Karnataka. “The ball is in Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda’s court. He is the master of the situation; it is up to him,” the Congress media in-charge Veerappa Moily said.

Responding to questions from the media, Mr. Moily said it was for the Governor to decide the next course of action, and the Congress would do nothing to tamper with the Constitutional process. “We will not put any undue pressure on the government.”

While Mr. Moily was not willing to comment any further on the situation in Karnataka, there is a view within the Congress that it favours allowing the BJP-JD(S) a chance to form a government. “It is in the interest of the Congress that they set up a government as then instead of one party, both will sink.”

About Mr. Gowda’s 12-point charter of demands to the BJP, Congress leaders quipped that it “smacks of destabilisation” and the Governor would have to satisfy himself that a BJP-JD(S) government can ensure stability. Referring to Mr. Gowda’s insistence on having a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with the BJP, the Congress leaders said the JD(S) president was adding new words to India’s political lexicon.