BJP will get to helm in Karnataka: Deve Gowda

Bangalore, Apr 24: In keeping with the pre-Government formationunderstanding, the Bharatiya Janata Party will get its stipulated 20months of Chief Ministership in Karnataka, provided it adhered to theCommon Minimum Programme and did not cross the 'Lakshman Rekha', JanataDal (Secular) President H D Deve Gowda said today. Speaking to mediapersons at the party office here, he said therewould not be any problem in JD(S), whose candidate H D Kumaraswamy isthe Chief Minister now, handing over power to the BJP after the 20months period ended in September this year.

In a coup of sorts, the JD(S)-BJP coalition had come to power inthe State in February 2006 after a group of JD(S) Legislators, led byMr Kumaraswamy, came out of the then Congress-JD(S) coalition to formthe Government with the BJP. The two parties had arrived at anunderstanding that candidates of the two parties would be the ChiefMinister for 20 months each till the next Assembly election was due.

''There is no truth in the reports that JD(S) will again alignwith the Congress to form the Government in Karnataka. We will stick tothe understanding that we arrived at before this Government was formed.However, the BJP will have to follow the understanding that was arrivedat before this Government was formed,'' Mr Gowda said.

He said his party had no objection to BJP's month-long 'VikasYatra', which would end at Udupi today. ''Let them conduct yatra oranyting that is supposed to make their party stronger in the State.

We know how to grow in this State and the BJP's campaign will have no bearing on the prospects of our party,'' he added.

UNI

Related Stories