PTI

Bangalore / New Delhi, Mar 7: After initial talks for an alliance with H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S) in Karnataka, a senior Congress leader from the state today ruled out a  tie-up with the party saying Gowda is in the Third Front.

"He (Gowda) has already stated that he is with the Third Front. It is an old story... The talks are for finalizing the Congress candidates without any alliance," Karnataka PCC President R V Deshpande told reporters here after taking part in the Screening Committee meeting to finalize party nominees for Karnataka.

Deshpande said another round of meeting of the Screening Committee will be held before the names are decided by CEC.

AICC General Secretary in-charge of the state Ghulam Nabi Azad and Defence Minister A K Antony participated in the marathon meeting of the Screening Committee to shortlist the candidates for Lok Sabha elections in the BJP-ruled state.

Before Gowda made a formal announcement of the Third Front, Azad had hoped of an alliance with JD(S) in the state to take on BJP.