The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Congress, BJP in pact: Bangarappa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 11, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress, BJP in pact: Bangarappa

Special Correspondence

‘Congress hopes for BJP support on nuclear deal’
‘Kumaraswamy agreeing to be Deputy Chief Minister is shocking’

BANGALORE: Samajawadi Party MP and former Chief Minister, S. Bangarappa, has said that the grand political move made by the Congress in allowing the formation of Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition in the State despite constitutional hurdles and unethical political scenario is only a “deal for striking another deal” for serving its political interests at the national level.

Mr. Bangarappa told presspersons here on Saturday that according to his information, the Congress had entered into a secret pact with the BJP for finding itself in a favourable position in addressing the nuclear deal and escape from the “clutches” of the Left parties.

‘Base politicking’

Questions on facilitating another coalition government in the State even as all the three political parties, the Congress, the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular), had repeatedly stated in favour of dissolution of the Legislative Assembly and the imposition of President’s rule would expose “base politicking” and opportunism of those concerned.

The Congress was one political party that could compromise with any equations for serving its ends.

It had again shown its political selfishness in the State at the cost of public interest, he said.

Referring to reports that the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was “condescend” to become the Deputy Chief Minister in the B.S. Yeddyurappa Ministry to be sworn in on Monday, the former Chief Minister said that it was shocking that a former Chief Minister was ready to be a Deputy Chief Minister.

His attitude would only show his hunger for power. In the overall political context, it would look that Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda had lost control over things, he said.

Asked whether the secret pact, as he learnt, between the Congress and the BJP indicated their coming together openly or clandestinely for ensuring political stability and keep off others, particularly the Left from playing a decisive role in the country’s politics and administration, Mr. Bangarappa said that he was not expecting that to happen in the near future.

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