Non-UPA, non-NDA parties should form third alternative: Gowda

Party president H D Deve Gowda told a gathering of senior leaders from across the country that neither Congress nor BJP could sustain the faith of the people and, hence, the need of the hour was forging a third alternative.

"We gave a similar call during the last Lok Sabha polls. It did not work. But, today, the need for secular and political parties to come together is more to defeat corrupt and communal forces," the former prime minister told the party's 3rd plenary session here. He took the opportunity to send feelers to RJD chief Lalu Prasad to "shed" differences and "unite" to strengthen regional parties.

The JD(S) has already sought support of 11 political parties, including regional and Left, to be part of its week- long rally against price-rise and corruption in Delhi prior to the Budget Session of Parliament. He also attacked both Congress and BJP in the wake of corruption charges against their senior leaders and charged them with "working together" in Karnataka during the recent trust vote in the state Assembly, which Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa won.

The JD(S) president said, "On one hand they are at each others throats over graft charges. But, their understanding in Karnataka... I don't understand this. It is creating confusion in the state." Resolutions passed at the plenary session focused on corruption, price rise and strengthening the party's position in various states, especially those going to polls this year. Commenting on yesterday's Union Cabinet reshuffle, Gowda simply said he did not understand its outcome.

Targeting subsequent governments at the Centre for not taking timely action over the issue of money stashed in Swiss banks, he said, "What I cannot understand is that (senior BJP leader) L K Advani is making a lot of noise now. But, how come his NDA government did nothing to retrieve this money when it was in power?"

The plenary session comes days after the zilla panchayat poll results were announced, in which, BJP won 12 seats and Congress and JD-S won four each.
Referring to the 10 district where the electorate gave a fractured verdict, Gowda said JD-S will never allow BJP to control those civic bodies, "even if we have to go with the Congress."

The resolution on the organisational matters said the party would strive to strengthen its position in Kerala and Tamil Nadu ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls there.
"We are already an alliance partner in the LDF government in Kerala and will look to consolidate our position in that state," Gowda said.