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Monday, Oct 03, 2005

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Karnataka coalition Government is now stronger, says Deve Gowda

S. Rajendran

Sonia Gandhi's political maturity in tackling a disinformation campaign hailed

BANGALORE: Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Deve Gowda has said the coalition Government in Karnataka emerged stronger thanks to the political maturity of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who has not been swayed, so far, by the disinformation campaign launched by a section of her partymen here.

Speaking to The Hindu on Sunday, he complimented Ms. Gandhi and the All-India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, A.K. Antony, for spiking a campaign against the Dharam Singh-led Government. The coalition-partners, the Congress and the JD(S), were rivals in the 2004 elections, but they came together to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party out. All steps should be taken to consolidate their position rather than destabilise it.

Mr. Antony, who was in Bangalore over the weekend to review the performance of the Congress Ministers, complimented the Chief Minister on the Government's performance, although he held out a cautionary note with regard to the less-than-satisfactory performance in certain areas. A section of the Congressmen sought a change of Chief Minister or fresh Assembly elections, but Mr. Antony ruled it out, stating that the Congress high command favoured the continuance of the coalition.

Offer of cooperation

Mr. Gowda said Mr. Antony was obviously voicing the views of Ms. Gandhi, who is keen on good relations with secular parties. The JD(S), on its part, would cooperate fully for the smooth running of the Government. Only a few months ago, rumours were afloat that the JD(S) was talking with some BJP leaders to form a government. Such baseless and speculative reports added to the confusion. It was the maturity of the leaderships of the coalition partners that led to the consolidation of the first coalition Government in Karnataka.

Some recent problems in the JD(S), which compelled the leadership to act against some legislators, including the former Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, influenced the anti-coalition group in the Congress. A former Minister, who is the lieutenant of a former Congress Chief Minister, claimed in a media interview that he had been working for over a year to lure Mr. Siddaramaiah from the JD(S). That effort has now succeeded. "It is time serious action is taken to stem such activities."

Hassan convention

Mr. Gowda, who has been upset with the activities of a section of the Congressmen who have aligned themselves with the Backward Classes movement going under the label of AHINDA, launched by Mr. Siddaramaiah and others, said the Congress leadership should take a firm stand on the matter. The AHINDA convention held recently in Hassan was organised with the aim of "defaming me."

"Virtually all the speakers used the platform to attack one leader rather than focus on the Backward Classes." Mr. Gowda hails from Hassan.

On the demand made by some Congressmen that the sharing formula for the Chairmen of State-sponsored boards and corporations be changed to 60:40 in the light of the marginal reduction in the number of JD(S) legislators, Mr. Deve Gowda said the arrangement was not based on numerical strength but on an understanding between the parties.

The Congress should abide by the Maharashtra pattern of power-sharing and make the much-delayed appointments to boards and corporations.

The former Prime Minister said the recent developments in the JD(S) only fuelled its growth.

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