The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Prakash ready to work for government formation

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Thursday, Nov 22, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Prakash ready to work for government formation

S. Rajendran

Says Congress must take initiative in forging tie-up
JD(S) leaders ‘not aware’ of Prakash’s initiative

BANGALORE: The former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash has offered to take the lead in forming a coalition government if the Congress takes the initiative in forging an alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular).

After deliberations with a number of Janata Dal (Secular) legislators, Mr. Prakash told The Hindu that “there is still scope for forming an alternative government. While the Union Cabinet took a decision a fortnight ago to permit the single largest party [Bharatiya Janata Party] to form a government, by adopting the same yardstick, the Union Cabinet could again permit the second largest party [the Congress] to form a government in the State. If the Congress takes the initiative, then we in the Janata Dal (Secular) too are ready.”

In a sudden development, about a month ago, a group of party legislators led by Mr Prakash ventured into holding direct discussions with the Congress leadership on government formation. Even as Mr. Prakash was in his final round of discussions with Congress leaders (on October 27) and was close to clinching an understanding, leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party H.D. Kumaraswamy struck a fresh understanding with the BJP.

Sources in the Janata Dal (Secular) told The Hindu here that they were happy with the developments and were hopeful that Mr. Prakash would be successful in finalising an understanding with the Congress. “We do not want elections. All of us are ready to extend support to Mr. Prakash. Let him take the lead in finalising an understanding.”

Mr. Prakash said if the Congress took the initiative, then he would do his best to forge an understanding which could help in forming a Government. “It is premature to say anything at the present stage. I am ready to work on behalf of the legislators given the nature of their resentment to elections at the present juncture. The legislators have categorically stated that opting for elections should be the last resort,” he said.

Alternative

Asked whether he was in touch with the Janata Dal (Secular) leadership in this matter, Mr. Prakash said both Deve Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy have themselves told the legislators that they were scouting for an alternative after a decision was taken to pull out of the alliance with the BJP.

Mr. Kumaraswamy and the President of the State unit of the Janata Dal (Secular), Merajuddin Patel told The Hindu that they were not aware of the initiative taken by Mr. Prakash . The former Chief Minister said: “Our solidarity is with him though.”

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