From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 13: KPCC president and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has advised JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda to reserve his prophecies for the existence of JD(S) rather than over the survival of the Congress government in the State.

Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, he said, “Congress party has 136 plus seats. Deve Gowda would be better off predicting the future of JD(S) than the Congress government in Karnataka."

Shivakumar was responding to Deve Gowda’s statement that there is no guarantee for Congress government. “I have also seen as much future as Deve Gowda. He has spent 60 years in political life while I have spent 40 years. We have 136 plus seats in the Assembly and let him not worry about our government’s survival. He would be better off thinking about the survival of JD(S),” he said.

Instead of predicting the downfall of Congress government, the KPCC chief asked Deve Gowda to tell the people whether JD(S) will remain a separate party or merge with the BJP.

Expel BJP leaders who raised Constitution change

Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that Constitution would not be changed even if Dr B R Ambedkar sought it, he said, “I have respect for the prime minister. I am not sure why he is talking about this topic now. Why did he not expel party leaders who raised the issue of changing the Constitution if the BJP got 400 seats. If the Prime minister is so committed to the integrity of the Constitution, he should expel the party leaders. He is talking about this now as the SC, ST and the downtrodden sections of the society have expressed their concern over BJP’s plan to change the Constitution.”