JOIN USHDK eyeing Cabinet berth
Despite winning just three seats, Kumaraswamy is learnt to have got a call from the Congress, seeking the JD(S) support to form the new government at the Centre.
AICC Karnataka-in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke to the former CM over phone on Saturday evening and sought his party’s support. The former has invited the latter for a meeting in Delhi to discuss the modalities, sources in the JD(S) claimed.
Kumaraswamy left for Delhi on Sunday evening. If everything goes well, sources said, the JD(S), more specifically Kumaraswamy, would get a berth in the Union ministry.
The JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has already given his consent. But he has decided to keep himself away from the developments, sources said.
Sonia’s promise
Sonia, during the one-to-one meeting with Kumaraswamy, is learnt to have made a promise in this regard provided the latter readily pledges his party’s support to the Congress irrespective of the outcome of the elections.
“As per the promise made, the Congress has now approached the JD(S) though it has just three seats to offer,” sources in the Congress said.
The whole idea of the Congress-JD(S) alliance at this juncture is to check further growth of the BJP in Karnataka. If the alliance is to happen, both parties will go hand-in-hand in all future elections in the State. This was also one of the agendas of the Sonia-Kumaraswamy meeting, sources said.
The JD(S) State president had explained to Sonia in detail as to how the BJP is reaping benefit of the lack of formal understanding between the Congress and the JD(S) in the State. He had also explained as to how the voluntary support the JD(S) gave to the Congress in six constituencies would help the party in the elections.
When contacted, Kumaraswamy, however, said if the Congress approaches his party for support, he will consider it. “We (JD-S) do not have big numbers to play a key role in Delhi. If they (Congress leaders) want our support, we will definitely consider it,” he said.
Secular forces
He said during the meeting with the Congress President last week, he stressed the need for secular forces coming together to stop the BJP’s growth in the State. The JD(S) has been saying this for long time.
Ready to support
“If the JD(S) supporting the Congress at the centre brings the two parties together, we are ready to support the Congress-led government,” he stated.
JD(S) spokesperson Y S V Datta said the party will not go to the doorsteps of the Congress to extend the support. If the Congress needs the JD(S) co-operation to prevent further growth of the BJP, the JD(S) will support it, he added.