HDK meets Sonia, creates a flutter

Former chief minister says Janata Dal (S) is still with Third Front

The former chief minister, who drove to the 10 Janpath residence of Sonia with his face covered, told reporters later: “The meeting took place at the instance of our Congress friends. We discussed issues relating to Karnataka. The JD(S) is firmly with the Third Front.”

However, sources told Deccan Herald that in their one-to-one meeting, Sonia and Kumaraswamy discussed a possible JD(S) support to the Congress if the latter was in a position to lead the next government. The Congress chief thanked Kumaraswamy for not fielding candidates in several seats in Karnataka such as Shimoga and Bellary in the Lok Sabha elections thereby indirectly supporting the Congress.

According to Kumaraswamy, sources said, either the Third Front will support a Congress-led government or the Congress will be forced to back a Third Front government.

“It was a clever ploy on Kumaraswamy’s part to take an early advantage. This may even give the JD(S) a good portfolio at the Centre in the event of a  non-BJP alliance assuming office,” sources added. The JD (S) leader, talking to Deccan Herald, stressed that his father was not aware of his meeting with Sonia until he told him about it after the talks. “I left Bangalore in the evening and did not get a chance to inform my father. However, I informed him about it after the meeting. He was of the opinion that there was no need for the meeting at this juncture,” Kumaraswamy said.

He stressed that nothing dramatic should be read into the meeting. “We are with the Third Front. It was the JD(S) which hosted the first meeting of the Third Front at Dobbspet. We are not deserting the Third Front. If anybody is thinking of this, they will know the truth after May 16,” he added.

Kumaraswamy, who drove to Sonia’s house along with Congress leader K C Kondaiah, said Sonia did not seek his support to form the next government.