JD(S) clears the air, says no truck with Congress

The speculation over JD(S)-Congress alliance for the MLC polls ended on Friday with the party supremo H D Deve Gowda categorically ruling out any such truck. Deve Gowda’s son and JD(S) State president H D Kumaraswamy too echoed the stand.

Speaking to reporters in Channarayapatna, Hassan district, Deve Gowda said: “Not only me, even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has spoken in the same tune.” He said the JD(S) decided against the alliance with Congress so as to avoid “impact” if any, on the forthcoming Taluk and Zilla Panchayat elections.

JD(S) State president  H D Kumaraswamy told reporters in Mysuru that he would “convince” his father against joining hands with other political parties. He said the list of candidates for all the 25 MLC seats was ready and it would be announced in two days. He warned of disciplinary action against anyone indulging in “petty politics”.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan said JD(S) would have benefitted if the alliance had come through. “I had no personal stakes here.

Kumaraswamy himself will get to become the chief minister, if the party comes to power, not me.”  He  maintained that there were no differences between him and Kumaraswamy.