Date:18/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/18/stories/2007111853210400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

JD(S) to wait till last minute

S. Rajendran

Decision on Monday on supporting BJP

Bangalore: The Janata Dal (Secular) leadership is expected to decide on Monday whether the party legislators should vote for or against the motion of confidence to be moved by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on that day.

Sources in the JD(S) told The Hindu that the matter would be discussed threadbare in two meetings of the JD(S) Legislature Party to be held on Sunday and Monday. While the first meeting will be an interaction between the party leadership and the legislators, the decision of the leadership will be conveyed to the legislators in the second meeting. Thereafter a whip will be issued to the legislators.

Mr. Yeddyurappa, who arrived here from New Delhi in the evening, is expected to have a meeting with the JD(S) Legislature Party leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Sinha arriving

BJP sources said the party leader in charge of Karnataka, Yashwant Sinha, would be arriving in Bangalore to hold discussions with JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy.

The BJP, whose State-level leaders held consultations with the party leadership in New Delhi for two days, considers the conditions laid down by the JD(S) as “suggestions”, which will be incorporated in the coalition’s Common Minimum Programme.

Kumaraswamy upbeat

Mr. Kumaraswamy told The Hindu that he was confident that the BJP would agree to abide by the conditions. “This has been discussed several times. I would like to clarify that we have not sought an agreement on 21 conditions as is being made out. Our list contains only 12 conditions. The list of 21 conditions has been prepared by a former public prosecutor who is attempting to play the role of a negotiator between the two parties.”

Given the nature of the developments, Sunday is expected to be a day of hectic political activity. After the legislature party meeting, Mr. Kumaraswamy is expected to meet party legislators individually to ensure that party remains united.

After the legislature party meeting, the JD(S) MLAs are expected to move to a resort on the outskirts of Bangalore . They will arrive at the Legislative Assembly as a group.