KOLLUR (UDUPI DISTRICT): Working President of the State unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said that there is no change in the stand of the party MLAs with regard to forming a coalition government with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that the results of the talks between the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and the All India Congress Committee President Sonia Gandhi will make no difference in the prevailing situation. The Congress cannot be trusted. The Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs backing him will convince Deve Gowda about their stand, he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the MLAs with him will visit Udupi on Wednesday. From there they will go to Dharmasthala, and reach Bangalore on Wednesday.

Regarding differences in ideology between Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that these differences will be kept outside. Both the parties will formulate a common minimum programme (CMP). They will concentrate on the progress of the State.

He said that there are no differences with the BJP regarding portfolio allocation. Mr. Kumaraswamy said that he will try to convince P.G.R. Sindhia and M.P. Prakash to join his group.

Asked if the political developments was a stage-managed drama by his father as alleged by some Congress leaders, Mr. Kumaraswamy said different interpretations have been given by difference people about his father's dreams for the growth of the State. These interpretations have also appeared in a section of the press. Some opponents are carrying false and malicious propaganda against his father, he said. "I swear on Goddess Mookambika that we [Mr. Kumaraswamy and MLAs supporting him] had kept that matter a secret. My father had no role in it."

Mr. Kumaraswamy said that he had never given any pain to Mr. Deve Gowda in his entire lifetime. But the feelings of the MLAs had made him to take this step of forming a coalition government with the BJP. Wrong impressions should not be created about this matter, he said.

Meeting

Giving details of the events leading to the split up with the Congress, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that he and the Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs met on the morning of January 12. They had a meeting lasting about 12 hours and decided to give a letter to the Governor regarding withdrawal of support to the Dharam Singh Government. He then went to Mr. Prakash's house and urged him [Mr. Prakash] to take up the leadership. But Mr. Prakash said that such a decision by him would pain Mr. Deve Gowda. Hence Mr. Prakash did not join him.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said in the last 20 months the Janata Dal (Secular) had to undergo a lot of humiliation at the hands of the Congress. The State Congress leaders should introspect and ask themselves if they have followed the coalition dharma, he said.

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