BJP unlikely to come to power in South: Patil

Bangalore, Oct 4: Union Home Minister V Shivaraj Patil today ruled out the possibility of Bharatiya Janata Party coming to power in the South.

When asked whether the BJP would come to power in South, particularly in Karnataka, he told newsmen here on the sidelines of a function ''I think this will never happen''.

The BJP, which had been a coalition partner of the JD(S) which led the Karnataka government for the last 20 months, was currently up in arms with its partner seeking to transfer power as per the agreement reached between the two parties after JD(S) deserted the Congress led coalition government last year.

Mr Patil declined to comment when asked whether the Congress would join hands with the JD(S) to form a government in the State in the event of the culmination of the current coalition set up. Asked whether he met JD(S) Supremo and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda here today he replied in the negative.

UNI