Karnataka   

Dharam Singh to abide by the party high command's decision

Special Correspondent

To face vote of confidence in the Legislative Assembly on Friday

BANGALORE: Karnataka Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh has reiterated that he will abide by the decision of the Congress high command with regard to the political crisis in the State.

He told presspersons at his official residence "Anugraha" that he is awaiting the outcome of talks between Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her Janata Dal (Secular) counterpart H.D. Deve Gowda in New Delhi. "Politics is a waiting game... we have to wait," he said.

Talks between Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Deve Gowda are expected to end the political stalemate. "Talks between the two leaders are a good development. Mr. Deve Gowda will place all issues before Ms. Gandhi. Both the leaders will find a solution to prevent the BJP from coming to power," he said.

Mr. Dharam Singh urged Mr. Deve Gowda, who left for New Delhi early this morning for talks with Ms. Gandhi, to resolve the crisis.

The Chief Minister, who returned to Bangalore on Monday night after attending the AICC plenary session in Hyderabad, said Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka A.K. Antony, Political Secretary to the Congress President Ahmed Patel and KPCC President M. Mallikarjuna Kharge held discussions for 90 minutes with Ms. Gandhi.

"They placed their views before Ms. Gandhi and explained to her the developments that led to the present situation."

Noting that he will face the vote of confidence in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, Mr. Dharam Singh hoped that he will sail through the floor test.

However, he will go by the decision taken by Ms. Gandhi on the issue, he said.

To a question, the Chief Minister denied that the party has deserted him.

However, he declined to discuss the views expressed by some leaders.

Asked about Mr. Deve Gowda's decision to support his son and Janata Dal (S) Working President H.D. Kumaraswamy's decision to align with the BJP, he said: "I am not going to react to what has appeared in newspapers."

Left parties have been extending support to the United Progressive Alliance at the Centre to keep the BJP out of power.

Mr. Deve Gowda also joined hands with the Congress to prevent the BJP from securing power here, Mr. Dharam Singh said.

Asked for his reaction on the allegation that the bureaucracy led by Chief Secretary B.K. Das is taking directions from Mr. Kumaraswamy, he said: "I am still the Chief Minister of the State." Such statements are baseless, he added.

He also denied allegations that the political crisis broke out after Mr. Kharge took over as the KPCC president.

On the Congress' alliance with All India Progressive Janata Dal led by former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the zilla and taluk panchayats, he said the matter has been left to local party units to decide.

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