There is no split in party: Deve Gowda

Even as Janata Dal-Secular leader Veerendrakumar says that he will vote against the United Progressive Alliance in the trust vote even if a whip to support the motion is issued, the JD-S camp in Bengaluru maintains that the party is united and there will be no difference of opinion.

JD-S MP from Kerala M P Veerendrakumar said on Friday that he will vote against the UPA during the trust vote on July 22 even if his party issues a whip asking its members to support the ruling coalition at the centre.

Party supremo H D Deve Gowda who was authorised by the party on Friday to take any decision in the interest of the party said that there was no split in the party. He said that all the three MPs, including him, were united in their stand and any decision that would be taken would keep in mind the interest of the party.

The Gowda camp told rediff.com that he would meet with Veerendrakumar first and then proceed to hold discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday. Dr Singh had telephoned Gowda on Friday morning seeking his support during the trust vote.

Gowda however refused to divulge any details of his converstation and maintained that a final decision would be arrived at on Saturday. His close associates say the decision would be based on the outcome of his meeting with the prime minister. They, however, added that 90 per cent of the decision was already made and that is they would be voting against the government on July 22.

JD-S leaders say that the statements by Veerendrakumar have not perturbed the former prime minister as all is well in the camp. The last thing that Gowda would want now is a division in the party, which has just three MPs. He feels that the three MPs can make a difference in national politics, but the key would be to remain united as of now.

Meanwhile Veerendrakumar said that he had taken the decision to vote against the Congress as he was opposed to the nuclear deal. He said during his meeting with Gowda he would appeal to him to vote against the Congress too.

He also said there was no confusion and there was no need of delaying matters as the stand of the party was clear. The announcement should have been made by now, he also added. I will also appeal to the third MP Shivanna, Veerendrakumar the leader of the JD-S in Parliament also said.

Speaking against the nuclear deal, Veerendrakumar questioned as to why the Congress was hurrying with the deal.

China and Japan took 17 and 7 seven respectively to negotiate a nuclear deal and I do not see why our government is hurrying with it. If the deal is signed then we would have to toe the line of the US in foreign policy and would end up becoming a satellite of the US, he added.