The Hindu : Front Page : Deve Gowda lists reasons against transfer of power

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Saturday, Oct 06, 2007
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Deve Gowda lists reasons against transfer of power

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: With the coalition government in Karnataka heading for a collapse, the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) national president, H.D. Deve Gowda, and BJP president Rajnath Singh met in New Delhi on Friday night and exchanged notes on the political developments.

A senior BJP leader said: “Mr. Gowda discussed with Mr. Rajnath the developments. He spoke in detail about the JD (S) concerns and gave reasons against a transfer of power. Mr. Singh told him that these concerns would be discussed by the BJP at its Parliamentary Board meeting on Saturday and he would get back to him.”

However, informally, top sources in the BJP said there would be no change in the BJP stance demanding immediate transfer of power as agreed to by the two parties 20 months ago and no change in its decision to have Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa as the next Chief Minister for the next 20 months, if the alliance was to survive.

The BJP is “most likely” to decide to withdraw support at a meeting on Saturday and the JD (S) is likely to take a “final decision” at its extended Political Affairs Committee meeting here on Saturday.

Earlier, at the end of a three-and-a-half hour meeting of the JD (S) PAC in the evening, the party said matters remained where they were. Party secretary-general and spokesperson Danish Ali told reporters that the PAC meeting was “inconclusive” and it would “meet again on Saturday at 11.30 a.m.”

A clear signal that the coalition was heading for a collapse came earlier in the day from Bangalore, where the Kumaraswamy Cabinet decided to go ahead with a floor test in the Assembly, possibly on October 18.

A senior BJP leader told The Hindu that it was “almost certain” that his party’s Parliamentary Board would formally decide to withdraw support to the government. “What is the option before us? If you ask me, it is the end of the road.” It was also hinted that the BJP could formally withdraw support on Saturday itself rather than wait to show its cards during the floor test.

As for the Congress, it indicated that its option were open. Spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said: “Nothing can be ruled out, nothing has been agreed [with the JD(S)].”

The BJP view is that although it was clear several months ago that the JD(S) would renege on its agreement to allow the BJP to head the government for the remaining 20 months of its tenure, the party exercised restraint as it wanted to “expose” the JD(S) failure to honour a commitment made publically. It was keen to demonstrate that it was the JD(S) that violated coalition dharma. BJP leaders said they knew the JD(S) was keen to buy time, but the BJP would not oblige it any more.

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