Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Dharam Singh has said mid-term elections to the State Assembly was unavoidable and the Congress party was preparing itself to face the elections to seek fresh mandate from people.

Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, Singh said the political atmosphere in the State was very fluid with the two ruling coalitions Janata Dal (S) and Bharatiya Janata Party being torn apart.

“It is highly unlikely that the JD (S) would hand over power to BJP. This is because there is no perfect agreement between the two parties on sharing power. It is only an understanding between Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa,” Singh explained.

Referring to the recent developments in JD (S) the Opposition leader pointed out that indications are enough to suggest that BJP will not get the chance to rule the State. JD (S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda met dissident BJP leader Mukhya Mantri Chandru and has offered him the post of chairman of the State Legislative Council.

Implausible

Heggada Devana Kote MLA Venkatesh has clearly stated handing over power to BJP was impossible.
Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari has already declared that Kumaraswamy will continue as chief minister even after his 20 month period lasting on October 3.

Mr Dharam Singh also pointed out to the statement of State’s representative in Delhi and JD (S) MLA Mahima Patel advising BJP to support the JD (S) government from outside as it had done to the Janata Party government headed by Ramakrishna Hegde in 1983.

“I need not predict mid-term elections to the State Assembly based on the horoscope of the two ruling coalition partners. It is sheer political understanding that BJP will not be allowed to rule the State.

There is no other alternative than to go for mid-term elections,” Singh said. He also linked the recent massive reshuffle of the State bureaucracy to the imminent mid-term elections.

“The chosen officers have been posted at chosen places at the behest of Mr Deve Gowda. This has apparently been done keeping in view the mid-term elections,’’ Singh sought to substantiate his mid-term poll prophecy.

Replying to a question the former chief minister ruled out the possibility of either Congress extending its support from outside to the JD (S) government or joining hands with it run a coalition government.

“We have learnt enough lessons from the past. We don’t want to venture again in to coalition experiment. We prefer elections and will come back on our own,” Dharam Singh declared. However, he hastened to add that the final decision always rests with the party high command.