PILGRIMAGE: Janata Dal (S) leader and Chief Minister-designate H.D. Kumaraswamy entering Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala on Tuesday. Chittoor MP D.K. Audikesavulu (second from right) and Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam A.V. Dharma R eddy are seen.

MYSORE: Chief Minister-designate H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said he is facing a dilemma over leading the coalition of the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the wake of widespread aspersions cast on the secular credentials of his father, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

Addressing presspersons at the Lalitha Mahal helipad here on Tuesday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said his father has remained opposed to his move to align the Janata Dal (S) with the BJP to form a government. This has put him in a dilemma over whether or not to lead the coalition. However, he expressed confidence that the confusion over formation of the new government will be cleared at the meeting of Janata Dal (S) MLAs in Bangalore on Thursday, convened by Mr. Deve Gowda. To a question, he said the leadership issue will be sorted out at the meeting.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said he will meet BJP leaders A.B. Vajpayee and L.K. Advani in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the situation arising out of his father's opposition to the Janata Dal (S) forging an alliance with their party. "I will bring up the matter during talks with them," Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

He said the "confusion" in the Janata Dal (S) has worsened because of efforts by vested interests to prevent the formation of a new government. Mr. Kumaraswamy said their efforts are aimed at forcing mid-term polls on the State, which MLAs and the people are opposed to.

Mr. Kumaraswamy criticised the Congress and the All-India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) leadership, including former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and accused them of "forcing" the Janata Dal (S) to seek the support of the BJP to form a new government.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the circumstances which made the Janata Dal (S) align with the BJP arose only after the Congress and the AIPJD allegedly hatched a conspiracy to bring about the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly and force mid-term polls on the State. He said efforts to form a new government began only after the Janata Dal (S) legislators pressured him to lead them. He made a commitment to the BJP, and now he has no choice. "I can't run away like a coward," he said.

About Mr. Siddaramaiah's statement that he has sought the disqualification of the breakaway group of the Janata Dal (S) under the anti-defection law, he asked: "Where is Siddaramaiah? Is he in Janata Dal (S)? He is technically in the JD(S) only to save his membership of the Assembly."

Visit to Tirumala temple

UNI adds from Tirupati:

Mr. Kumaraswamy and Janata Dal (S) MLAs visited Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala early on Tuesday. Mr. Kumaraswamy, who arrived here on Monday night along with the MLAs, family members and followers, walked 11 km from Alipiri here and reached Tirumala where he was received by the authorities.

Briefing presspersons, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he and Mr. Yediyurappa will be sworn in on Friday. After assuming office, he will take steps to ensure that Karnataka maintains cordial relations with Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

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