The Hindu : Front Page : JD(S) shuts the door on Congress, BJP on government formation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
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JD(S) shuts the door on Congress, BJP on government formation

S. Rajendran

Kumaraswamy rules out revival of ties with the BJP

Legislators express their helplessness to face elections
Two-day meeting of JD(S) legislators concludes

Bangalore: The two-day meeting of the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party, which concluded on Tuesday, virtually shut the door on the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. It will not ally with either party.

A final decision on this is expected to be announced on Thursday by the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, along with the former Minister and senior leader M.P. Prakash and the State President of the Janata Dal (Secular) Merajuddin Patel.

Sources in the Janata Dal (Secular) told The Hindu that the party would not like to bow before any political party seeking cooperation. If the Congress was interested, then it was for the leadership of that party to interact with the top leadership of the Janata Dal (Secular). “We may be a small regional party, but have a proven strength here. Like the Congress and the BJP, the Janata Dal (Secular) is also for a fresh mandate,” the source said.

Interestingly, most legislators who spoke at the two-day meeting expressed their helplessness in facing elections should it be held in the near future. Their demand was that the party leadership should seek an understanding with either party — the BJP or the Congress. With the term of the twelfth Assembly scheduled to draw to a close only in May 2009, the legislators said that they were keen on completing their term.

It was officially stated at the end of the meeting that the legislators unanimously decided to authorise Mr. Kumaraswamy, Mr. Prakash and Mr. Merajuddin Patel to act on their behalf in arriving at a final decision — either to opt for elections or seek an alliance with another political party aimed at forming a coalition government. These three leaders are expected to meet on Wednesday and also hold discussions with president of the Janata Dal (Secular) H.D. Deve Gowda.

Mr. Kumaraswamy told The Hindu that there was no question of the Janata Dal (Secular) reviving its association with the BJP.

“The BJP leaders, day in and day out, have been attacking me and the Janata Dal (Secular). The target of the “Dharma Yatra” programme is the Janata Dal (Secular) and myself. How do you expect me to talk to the BJP? It is all over,” he said. He also spoke in the same vein against the Congress and said the Janata Dal (Secular) preferred to go before the people (elections) at the present juncture.

The former Chief Minister and the former Transport Minister, N. Cheluvarayaswamy said that the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party was united and nobody could attempt to lure the legislators, leave alone dividing the party. The two-day legislature party meeting was to exhibit that they are all united, they said.

‘No request’

A senior Congress leader said that the party had not received any official requisition from the Janata Dal (Secular) seeking cooperation to form a Government. The party would take a decision only after receiving a formal requisition, the leader said.

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