Karnataka   

M.P. Prakash meets Congress leaders

BANGALORE: In a development that jolted the Janata Dal (Secular) leadership here, a group of party legislators, led by senior leader and former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash on Tuesday knocked on the doors of the Congress in Delhi seeking an alliance to form a government in Karnataka.

Sources in the Janata Dal (S) told The Hindu here that a 10-member group called on Union Minister and Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka affairs Prithviraj Chavan.

They followed it up with a meeting with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. According to sources, Mr. Prakash decided to take the lead as the Congress High Command had so far not held discussions with the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) president, H.D. Deve Gowda, on the matter.

There are many legislators in the Janata Dal (S) who are not in favour of elections.

The delegation reportedly impressed upon the Congress leaders that they could muster the requisite strength for government formation and sought two days to bring together the party legislators.

The Congress leaders are now expected to convey details of their discussions to party president Sonia Gandhi. Ms. Gandhi is scheduled to be in China for four days from October 26.

Mr. Prakash told The Hindu said he was only working at forging an understanding with a “secular party” which could help in forming a government. “I am only acting on behalf of the legislators who authorised the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and myself to hold discussions on government formation. The legislators have categorically stated that opting for elections should be the last resort,” he said.

The former Deputy Chief Minister said he would call on Mr. Kumaraswamy soon after arriving in Bangalore on Wednesday and convey to him details of the discussions which he had with the Congress leaders. “I am confident of convincing the party legislators that we will go together in government formation,” he said. It is the first time that Mr. Prakash or for that matter a Janata Dal (S) leader has ventured to New Delhi for direct discussions with the Congress leadership. In the past, such delegations were led by Mr. Deve Gowda.

Incidentally, the legislators (barring Sandur MLA Santosh Lad) who have made the New Delhi trip belong to the dominant Lingayat community.

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