“If the government has any evidence that JDS is a terrorist group, let it ban it and even recommend to Centre”, Kumaraswamy, a former Chief Minister, said reacting to Gowda’s comments made during the campaign for the August 18 bypolls to five assembly seats in the state.

Kumaraswamy said such statements coming from a person heading a national political party do not augur well for his own stature and his party.

Asked if JDS was willing for a tie-up with Congress in the light of the  bypoll outcome, he said “let the congress introspect on the prevailing ground realities.”

In the by-elections, BJP and JDS had bagged two seats each and Congress one.

Congress, which had held four seats, lost two to BJP and one to JDS.

After the JDS candidate’s nomination was rejected on technical grounds in Govindarajanagar in Bangalore, where Housing Minister V Somanna lost, JDS chief H D Deve Gowda had himself canvassed in the constituency calling for support to secular party, apparently referring to Congress.