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B'lore: Deve Gowda against Ties with Cong, Partymen Persist

  •   Fri, Oct 26 2007 06:56:43 AM

IANS 
 
Bangalore, Oct 26: Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) president H D Deve Gowda on Thursday ruled out forming a government in alliance with the Congress in Karnataka to avoid early polls.

But despite this, some of his party colleagues continued to press ahead with their efforts to woo the Congress, the former ally, for possible government formation.

"The issue is still open," senior state JD-S leader M P Prakash said on Thursday in an unusual variance from his party president's line.

"A correct picture might emerge after the Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) returns from her China visit," said Prakash.

He had met senior Congress leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday without Deve Gowda's permission, and angered the party president by his act.

Earlier in the day, a furious Deve Gowda called a press meet to announce that his party had no option but to prepare for polls since the Congress had rejected Prakash's efforts at a coalition government.

Prakash is under intense pressure by a section of the 51 JD-S legislators to make efforts to avoid early polls staring the state in the face after the collapse of the JD-S-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government earlier this month over the power transfer row.

The BJP pulled out of the ministry headed by H D Kumaraswamy of the JD-S as he refused to make way for BJP leader B S Yediyurappa to succeed him as per the understanding reached between the two parties 20 months back.

Kumaraswamy resigned on October 8, 2007 and the State was brought under the president's rule and the Assembly kept in suspended animation on October 9, giving rise to speculation that the Congress central leadership was inclined to from a government again in coalition with the JD-S.

The Congress and the JD-S had formed a coalition ministry in May 2004 but it fell as Kumaraswamy walked out with 49 JD-S legislators to forge alliance with the BJP in February 2006.

A majority of the members of the 225-strong Assembly is against early polls as the house still has 20 months' term left.

An overwhelming majority of the JD-S legislators particularly is opposed to early polls as it fears that Kumaraswamy's refusal to honour accord and hand over power to the BJP has turned voters against them.

Prakash has become the rallying point for these legislators, though till now he has never gone against Deve Gowda's decision.

"Let us wait for Sonia Gandhi's decision," Prakash said, reacting to Deve Gowda's claim that the Congress had shut the door on talks on government formation.

Meanwhile, Deve Gowda's son Kumaraswamy continued his efforts to find a common ground between the party legislators opposed to early polls and his father who is against a tie-up with the Congress again.

Kumaraswamy and Prakash met at an undisclosed place after Deve Gowda's press conference but declined to reveal the issues they discussed.

The JD-S legislators banking on Prakash said he would not be deterred by Deve Gowda's stand and will pursue Prakash's efforts till a word emerges from Gandhi.

"Deve Gowda has used a comment by (senior Congress leader) Prithviraj Chavan to put an end to Prakash's efforts. But the final word in the Congress is that of Sonia Gandhi and we will wait for it," said a JD-S legislator who accompanied Prakash to New Delhi.

Chavan had said on Tuesday after meeting Prakash that the Congress was not interested in government formation and favours polls.

However, Prakash insisted on Wednesday on return from New Delhi that "there is a ray of hope and a clear picture will emerge only after Sonia Gandhi returns from China."

Gandhi who began her China visit Wednesday is returning October 29, 2007.

Prakash's assertion on waiting for Gandhi's word even after Deve Gowda announcing an end to the efforts has rekindled hopes in a section of the Congress in Karnataka which is keen on an alternative government.

"Once there is a clear indication from Sonia Gandhi on government formation, an overwhelming majority of the JD-S legislators will openly come out in support of Prakash," said a Congress leader.

Meanwhile, Deve Gowda flew to New Delhi Thursday evening to brief his party colleagues from other states on the developments in Karnataka. 
 

The Karnataka Drama -  'Stage' by 'Stage':
  

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Title: B'lore: Deve Gowda against Ties with Cong, Partymen Persist



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