Date:09/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/09/stories/2008070955411200.htm

National

JD(S) to decide before confidence vote

S. Rajendran

BANGALORE: The Janata Dal (Secular) — which has three members in the Lok Sabha, including the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda and the former Union Minister, M.P. Veerendra Kumar — has not made up its mind on extending support to the UPA government following the withdrawal of support by the Left parties.

Mr. Gowda told The Hindu that the party will take a decision before the UPA government faces the confidence vote on the floor of the Lok Sabha. “There is still time and ours is a small regional party.”

To a question on whether the JD(S) will go with the Congress or the Left, Mr. Gowda refrained from giving a direct reply. “It all depends on how the Congress responds to the political situation in Karnataka. We have to work together to put down the BJP. Legislators of both the Congress and the JD(S) are being bought by the BJP thanks to the money power of the iron ore mines and land mafia. This is a very serious and bad precedent. The JD(S) extended support to the Congress in the Rajya Sabha elections and I have suggested that this should continue in the by-election to the Legislative Assembly following the resignation tendered by four legislators.”

He said that if the Congress was serious on consolidation of secular forces “it is free to approach us. We have an open mind.” The former Prime Minister is stated to be in touch with some top Left leaders.