JOIN USKumaranna, Sonia meet planned much in advance
This time they not only want to be part of the power at the centre, but to rein in on the BJP government in the State.
Kumaraswamy’s one-to-one meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, has made it clear the JD(S) would join the UPA in the event of the Third Front, especially the Left parties, deciding not to support the Congress in forming the new government.
Gowda had planned the meeting much in advance, even before finalising the party’s nominees for the Lok Sabha elections in the State.
He indirectly supported the Congress by not fielding his party candidates in six seats in the State. It was on the basis of this goodwill gesture Kumaraswamy could meet Sonia, sources said.
Post-poll ‘tie-up’
Kumaraswamy during his about 15-minute meeting with Sonia is said to have spoke about how the Congress would benefit from the JD(S)’ decision not to field candidates in six constituencies. The former chief minister also discussed about political situation in Karnataka and appraised her about latest developments.
Sonia, on her part, learnt to have said that they will meet again after May 16.
The father-son duo at the same time have kept the option of Third Front open.
Both Gowda and his son have vehemently denied having discussed about post-poll alliance with Sonia and asserted that they are still with the Third Front.
So was the reason Gowda decided to send his son to 10 Janapath instead of him personally going there. By doing so he created a base for his argument that his son’s meeting was about Karnataka politics and nothing to do with post-poll alliance at the Centre.
According to sources close to Gowda, the timing of Kumaraswamy’s meeting Sonia is crucial. It happened at a time when the Congress has been desperately scouting for allies. “Gowda thought the Congress is trying to isolate the Left parties and with it all the constituents of the Third Front. Gowda therefore decided to strike and got an appointment fixed with the Congress Supremo for his son,” sources explained.
Sources said, Kumaraswamy during his meeting with Sonia did not set any conditions as such. “The meeting hardly lasted for 15 minutes. HDK, as the JD (S) state president, spoke only about the performance of his party and the future it has in the State. He has been in touch with the Congress for last three months. Bellary Congress leader K C Kondaiah who was into mining business earlier, is at logger heads with the Bellary Reddy brothers of the BJP. He and HDK has common enemies to fight.
Enemies’ enemy helped
Kondaiah was instrumental in fixing up the meeting of HDK with Sonia. The effort is just to keep HDK in contact with the Congress high command”, sources said. Kondaiah was also present during HDK-Sonia meeting.
When contacted Kondaiah said nothing significant was discussed at the meeting. Asked whether the Congress, in colluding with the JD (S) is trying to shake the Yeddyurappa government, he just said, “It is too early to discuss such things. We have no such plans. Let the LS results come”.
Sources said, Gowda has his own doubts over the unity of the Third Front though he played a key role in forming it. Especially after Telangana Rasthra Samiti, which was one of the 10 constituents of the Front, announcing its support for the NDA recently.
Gowda is also upset that with the “one-upmanship” of CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat, who has been acting as self-appointed spokesperson of the Front.
Karat had even stated that the West Bengal CM could be a prime ministerial candidate, though it was unanimously decided among the Front constituents the PM candidate will be decided only after the results are out.