Deve Gowda is Not that Old to Retire from Politics: Kumaraswamy
From Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MAY 29:  SCOTCHING speculation over the health of former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy declared that his father was ``not that old to retire from politics.’’

"He has been advised complete rest by his doctors after the gruelling election campaign,’’ the state JD(S) president said clarifying that his father was taking rest at his residence as per the doctors’ advice. ``He has enough strength, stamina and will-power to build the party.’’

Kumaraswamy, who formally submitted his resignation letter to the state assembly speaker Jagadish Shettar from his Ramanagaram assembly constituency after deciding to retain the Bangalore rural lok sabha seat won by him in the recent elections, told reporters at Vidhana Soudha that the decision was taken in the best interests of the state and also to strengthen the party.

"We need a strong representation for the state in Delhi to fight for safeguarding its interests as the state had received a raw deal from successive governments in the past,’’he said.

Kumaraswamy indicated that JD(S) was ``strong enough’’ in the state to independently fight the ensuing by-elections to five assembly constituencies in the state following the vacancies arising after the lok sabha polls. ``I can’t state at this point of time as to whether we will go it alone or fight the elections in alliances or seat-sharing understanding with the Congress. We will take a decision after examining all aspects,’’he said.

The former chief minister, who created a flutter in political circles in the state after his hush-hush meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the eve of counting of lok sabha elections, said he was fully aware of the fact that a large section of Congress leaders both at the state and national level as well as the public and several organisations in favour of a tie-up between Congress and JD(S) to effectively take on the communal BJP. At the same time, he said another section of Congress leaders were opposed to such an understanding and claim that Congress is strong enough to fight BJP.

"Whether there is an understanding between Congress and JD(S)  or not, I want to categorically state that our party is strong enough to emerge as a viable and credible alternative to both Congress and BJP,’’he said clarifying that prevention of the division of secular votes was a larger issue to be decided by all parties.

The former Chief Minister also sought to clarify that he was not camping in New Delhi nursing hopes of landing a ministerial berth in the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government. "During my week-long stay in New Delhi, there was a lot of speculation in the media that I was seeking a ministerial berth. But, I never sought any ministerial berth,’’ he said explaining that his meeting with Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders in Delhi pertained  to important issues pertaining to the state,

He expressed his gratitude to AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Ghulam Nabi Azad, who had recently been inducted as a cabinet minister, for giving a clarification thaty that ``JD (S) never sought a ministerial berth.’’

The JD(S) leader said his party decided to extend unconditional support to UPA after senior Congress leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Son ia Gandhi and Azad sought it.``Azad telephoned me  seeking JD(S) support and invited me to Delhi, following which I met Sonia Gandhi,who also made a similar request. Later, Dr Singh called Deve Gowda,’’ he said expressing satisfaction that as many as four persons from the state had been made cabinet ministers. In addition, there are two ministers of state, including Jairam Ramesh, from Karnataka.

"I am sure these leaders will ensure that justice is done to the state as all are quite seasoned politicians who are familiar with the needs and requirements of the state,’’ he said.

Kumaraswamy, who was serving as the JD(S) legislature party leader in the state, said the party legislators would meet shortly to elect a new leader as there were several capable leaders.