Report and pics from Rajtilak Naik in Panaji
for Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)

Panaji, Apr 7: Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Saturday appealed to the people of Goa to vote and  elect people-friendly candidates and get the best government the state had ever had.

Gowda was speaking at a public meeting organized by the Goa state Janata Dal (Secular) at Institute Menezes Braganza hall at Panaji.

Gowda ruled out any possibility of the party coming into any alliance with either with ruling Congress or the BJP in the state.

Daijiworld's special correspondent adds:

Karnataka's power shifting from Janata Dal (S) to BJP in the months to come will not be a problem, if the BJP sticks to Karnataka development Programme, JD (S) national president H D Deve Gowda said here on Saturday.

Gowda, who is camping in Goa to prepare the party for forthcoming Goa legislative assembly elections, recalled that the JD(s) alliance with BJP was forged only based on the Karnataka developement programme which is the crux of the understanding.

He said that the party had not surrendered to anyone and their Karnataka alliance was a strategic one. "My party principles are something different from Congress and BJP," he said to the reporters.

Talking about Karnataka experience, the former prime minister said that relations with the BJP will stay sober as long as they (BJP) adhered to Karnataka development programme.

Gowda said that his party would work out various alliances with local groups in different states depending on the situation. "All such alliances are subject to approval from the national JD(S) leaders," he added.

He reiterated that alliance with BJP in Karnataka was forced on because of the fractured mandate offered by people during 2004 elections.

Replying to a specific question to rate his son as a chief minister, Gowda said that it is for media to rate him. "Some rate him third while some say he is seventh," he added.