M. Mallikarjun Kharge

Bangalore: The State unit of the Congress has decided to convey to the party high command its opposition to any fresh alliance with the Janata Dal (S), should such a proposal come up for consideration.

This is expected to end speculation that the Janata Dal (S) and Congress were looking forward to forging an alliance which in turn would obviously result in the Janata Dal (S) dumping the BJP.

The first part of the agreement under which the Janata Dal (S) heads the Government is for 20 months and scheduled to end in October.

It is, however, another matter that this stand of the Congress has been arrived at by the State leaders, although any decision on a fresh alliance has to be finalised by the high command. It is also common knowledge that in the past (when the N. Dharam Singh Government was formed) the former Prime Minister and president of the Janata Dal (S) H.D. Deve Gowda preferred to directly speak to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and her political secretary Ahmed Patel rather than to the State Congress leaders.

President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee M. Mallikarjun Kharge told The Hindu here that the party's rank and file was opposed to any alliance with the Janata Dal (S).

"The Congress prefers to fight the Assembly elections rather than commit hara-kiri by joining hands with the Janata Dal (S). Contrary to what is being said here, should the party high command look forward to an alliance with the Janata Dal (S), consultations will be held with the State unit of the party. As the president of the State unit, I will convey the opinion of the party rank and file which is totally opposed to an alliance with the Janata Dal (S)."

Difficulties

He said, apart from all the difficulties faced by the Congress when the Dharam Singh Government was in power, the Kumaraswamy Government has been going hammer and tongs against Congressmen in several districts such as Hassan, Mysore, Mandya, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore Urban and Gulbarga.

"From day one of the present Government, Congress activists have been a harassed lot. Both the JD (S) and the BJP have worked against us. We don't require the support of the JD (S) to prove our secular credentials or to show our concern to the minorities and the weaker sections."

Mr. Kharge said it was quite obvious that the present talk of an alliance between the Congress and the JD (S) had been floated by the latter only to "arm twist the BJP and ensure that it abides by its dictates. As such, the BJP has already succumbed to the pressure being exerted by the JD (S)."

The Congress did not require the support of the JD (S) to put down what has been portrayed as the growing presence of the BJP in the State. "We know how to put the BJP down. Should there be elections, it is the JD (S) which will be down and out. The BJP will swallow the JD (S)."

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