The Hindu : Front Page : Not happy with Congress pushing nuclear deal: JD(S)

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Monday, Jul 21, 2008
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Not happy with Congress pushing nuclear deal: JD(S)

S. Rajendran

This was an opportunity for JD(S) factions to unite: Gowda

BANGALORE: The three-member Janata Dal (Secular) has decided to go with the Left parties and vote against the United Progressive Alliance government in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The former Prime Minister and national president of the JD (S), H.D. Deve Gowda, and the leader of the three-member group in the Lok Sabha and former Union Minister, M.P. Veerendra Kumar, told The Hindu that they “are happy to go with the Left and vote out the UPA. We are not happy with the manner in which the Congress has pushed forward with the nuclear deal.”

Mr. Gowda said: “There is no question of the three members abstaining from the confidence vote as was made out in a section of the media. We will definitely vote and add to the strength of the political parties ranged against the government.”

He said the JD (S) was never interested in any kind of bargaining with the ruling combine as was being made out by its opponents. “We are more serious in consolidating the strength of our party and this has come as an opportunity for the Kerala faction of the JD (S) to return to the main party.”

The Veerendra Kumar faction had parted ways with Mr. Gowda after H.D. Kumaraswamy aligned with the BJP to form a coalition government in Karnataka.

Gratitude

Mr. Gowda said: “The trust vote has also provided me an opportunity to repay my gratitude to the Left parties” which extended support to the United Front government headed by him in 1996-97.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, accompanied by her close confidant, Satish Chandra Mishra, called on Mr. Gowda at the latter’s residence on Sunday and sought his support. “Mr. Gowda is a former Prime Minister who has all along fought for the cause of the farming community. So I personally decided to call on him,” Ms. Mayawati said.

The other leader who called on Mr. Gowda was Telengana Rashtra Samiti chief K. Chandrashekar Rao.

The JD (S), Mr. Gowda in particular, had been playing his cards close to his chest right from day one after the Left parties withdrew support to the government. Mr. Gowda had even called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, giving room for speculation that the JD (S) would extend support to the government.

“I have not come for bargaining,” the former Prime Minister said, adding that he had quit the high office earlier.

Mr. Kumar told The Hindu that the JD (S) decision to vote against the UPA was taken at a high level meeting of the party late on Saturday. Further, there was no question of any revolt within the party given the nature of the understanding among the three members. The third member is Shivanna, who represents the Chamarajanagar constituency in the Lok Sabha.

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