Date:25/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102555560600.htm

Karnataka

Gowda against talks with Congress on poll tie-up

Staff Correspondent

‘I do not want to come in the way of unity in that party’

HASSAN: The former Prime Minister and president of the Janata Dal (Secular) H.D. Deve Gowda on Friday cautioned his party leaders not to continue any dialogue on entering into an alliance with the Congress in the coming byelections to the Legislative Assembly from eight constituencies in the State.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, Mr. Gowda said there were arguments and counterarguments in the Congress about entering into an alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular). “I do not want to come in the way of unity in that party,” he said. Let the Congress stop discussions in this regard and concentrate on strengthening the party. “The Congress is the most secular party, and I will be happy if it wins all the eight seats,” he said.

When asked if the Janata Dal (Secular) would field candidates in all the eight Assembly constituencies, Mr. Gowda declined to reply.

“I do not want my party leaders, including H.D. Kumaraswamy, to continue any dialogue with the Congress,” he said.

Mr. Gowda said the coming byelections would not be a referendum on the Bharatiya Janata Party rule in the State or a referendum on “Operation Kamala”.

He alleged that in the last Assembly elections, the BJP spent about Rs. 80 crore in Bellary district alone.

They did everything to win the election. They made MLAs resign in the morning and made them ministers by afternoon, he said.

On the statement of the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy that the BJP Government would fall within four months, Mr. Gowda said the Janata Dal (Secular) would have nothing to do with the fall of the Government.

Mr. Gowda described “Operation Kamala” as most immoral, unethical and vulgar. The people will teach the unjust politicians a lesson, he said.