Prakash, who met Gowda at his residence here and held talks for nearly two hours, rejected Gowda’s call to join his son Kumaraswamy in backing BJP.

“The party requires your guidance... Join hands with Kumaraswamy and participate in the coalition government,” sources quoted Gowda as telling Prakash. Gowda was ready to meet Prakash at the latter’s residence to hold the meeting on Wednesday. But Prakash said he himself would meet him.

Sources said Prakash was candid in the meeting when he aired his opinion on the recent developments when he held discussions with the Congress leaders in Delhi on forming government.

He also told Gowda he has been “hurt” and “humiliated” with the “unilateral” decision of Kumaraswamy to re-forge the alliance with the BJP.

Later he told reporters there is no change in his stand.

Prakash also reiterated he will continue to be in the party.

Gowda, on his part, claimed there was some communication gap between the party and Prakash and there were no differences as such. “Prakash is very much in the party and the question of split in the party does not arise.”