Congress denies any understanding with the JD(S)

New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) The Congress Party today maintained that the decision of the Janata Dal (S) led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda to abstain from tomorrow's presidential poll was not as part of any understanding between them.

"No...not at all," Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told mediapersons at the AICC headquarters here, in reply to a question if the JD(S) decision was a quid pro quo for a possible support by the Congress to Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in the event of the JD(S) ending its power sharing agreement with the BJP in the state.

"For us...we continue to believe more expansion of secular umbrella," Mr Dasmunsi said.

There were reports that Mr Kumaraswamy is inclined to continue as Chief Minister even after his 20-month-long turn ends. According to the power sharing agreement between the JD(S) and the BJP, a BJP nominee would replace Mr Kumaraswamy to the Chief Ministership after the first 20 months and he will continue during the remaining period of the current term of the government.

Meanwhile, Janata Dal (S) Spokesman Danish Ali told UNI that the decision to abstain from the Presidential poll had nothing to do with the political arrangements in Karnataka.

He pointed out that the JD(S) always maintained an "equidistance" with both the Congress and the BJP at the national level.

In this context, he said the JD(S) did not support the candidature of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who was supported by both the Congress and the BJP, in the last presidential election.

UNI