JD-S is not afraid of elections, says Gowda

The supreme commander of the Janata Dal-Secular H D Deve Gowda is back in Bangalore, days after reportedly failed attempts to work out an alliance with the Congress in New Delhi.

Sitting at his residence in Bangalore, he is now looking ahead and plotting his next move. Gowda has put on his thinking cap once again, and as long as he is around, there can never be a dull moment in Karnataka politics.

Chatting informally with this correspondent, Gowda says the decision to form an alliance with the Congress was just a rumour. He said there was no question of forming a government with the Congress at this stage.

Gowda added that since the Union Cabinet had recommended the dissolution of the house, there was no question of forming a government with the Congress. He said neither party had approached the other and that it was the Congress leaders who were spreading rumours to cause confusion.

Gowda said only elections could solve the ongoing political crisis in Karnataka and that it was necessary in the interest of the people not to allow the Bharatiya Janata Party to continue in power.

The JD-S chief also wanted to clear the misconception that his party was scared to face elections, adding that reports of his son and former state chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's decision to float another party was pure media speculation.

Gowda reaffirmed that Kumaraswamy would remain with the JD-S and there was no question of the father and son drifting apart. Gowda iterated that there would be no split in the JD-S and that his party would soon commence its election campaign .