The Hindu : Karnataka News : Third front emerging across the country, says Deve Gowda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 19, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Third front emerging across the country, says Deve Gowda

Special Correspondent

`Janata Dal (S) in the lead in forging the third alternative in the State'

WELCOME TO THE PARTY: The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda with BJP workers who joined the JD(S) in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: Murali Kumar K.

BANGALORE: The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has said that a third front is emerging across the country as an alternative to the Congress and the BJP, and in Karnataka the Janata Dal (Secular) is in the lead in forging the third alternative.

A large number of BJP activists from Kolar, Karkala, Kundapur, Bagalkot and Bijapur on Saturday joined the JD(S) at the party headquarters here in the presence of Mr. Gowda and several other leaders. It is said that the BJP activists who joined the JD(S) are mainly those who deserted the erstwhile Janata Dal when the party split in 1999. Among those present to welcome the new entrants to the party was the Minister for Horticulture, Alangur Srinivas, who hails from Kolar district.

Mr. Deve Gowda told presspersons that political polarisation has commenced and JD(U) and BJP activists are joining the JD(S) in a big way. "The political situation in the country today is fluid." It is not that elections are round the corner, but the indication is that the people in the other parties are not happy and are aligning themselves with the JD(S). However, it must be noted that all the political parties are gearing up for elections given the lack of cohesion in the United Progressive Alliance led by the Congress, he said.

He said he would soon tour the districts to strengthen the party. It does not mean that the coalition Government's days are numbered. It will continue to remain as long as the people want it. "The JD(S) will not be a party to the downfall of the coalition Government. We did not align with the Congress because we are power hungry. The verdict of the people was divided, and we were compelled to align with the Congress to keep the BJP out. I have said repeatedly that the JD(S) will work to ensure that the Government lasts its full term. There are irritations in the relationship between the Congress and the JD(S), but such things will not result in the fall of the Government."

Among those who joined the JD(S) were the chairmen of 23 gram panchayats, over 25 former chairmen of gram panchayats and nearly 200 members of gram panchayats.

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