Daijiworld Media Network – Hassan (SP)

Hassan, Dec 17: “As the state government is stable at present, there is no question of Siddaramaiah becoming the state’s Chief Minister (CM) in the immediate future. If he becomes the CM in future as per the choice of the Congress high command, we have no problem,” clarified JDS supremo and former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda. This is contrary to his earlier perceived stand, as claimed in the past by Siddaramaiah himself, that Gowda had denied him of the opportunity to become the state Chief Minister.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday December 15, Gowda said that a decision would be taken if no party gets an absolute majority to form the next government. “The Congress has several aspirants for the CM’s post. The high command of that party has to select its candidate. If it decides on Siddaramaiah, we have no problem,” he asserted.

Gowda disassociated himself with the popular perception that he had played a role in striking an understanding with the Congress party for legislative council election. “I have never held any secret parleys with the leaders of other parties. Kumaraswami had taken decisions independently. At the same time, the time is not ripe to talk about the possible alliance for the next assembly election. When the election approaches, we will start considering this issue then,” he clarified.

He said, striking an understanding with the Congress party had become absolutely necessary to thwart the BJP from getting a majority in the legislative council. “If the BJP gets majority in the council, it will be able to get all the bills moved by it passed in both the houses without any problems. We have seen these things happening in the BJP-ruled states. Such a scenario will work to the disadvantage of the minorities,” he felt.

Gowda wanted the Election Commission and all the political parties to do something to stop what has come to be known as ‘Resort Politics’, which he termed as unethical.  He disapproved of the central government’s decision to carve out separate Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh, but reminded that the Fazal Ali Commission had recommended for a separate state. He felt that the centre should have identified backward pockets in Telangana region and worked to develop them, in which case, the cry for a separate state would not have arisen.