Oscar non-commital on Cong forming next govt in Karnataka

Bangalore, Oct 22 (UNI) Favouring secular parties to come together and form next alternate government in Karnataka, Senior Congress leader and Union Minister of state for Labour Oscar Fernandes said that Congress Party High Command was seized of the matter and take a suitable decision on the issue.

Speaking to news persons on a sidelines of a function here today he said, "as for as formation of next government in Karnataka, the party High Command would take a decision and it would be binding to all".

He favoured that all secular parties should come together to keep the communal forces out of power. However he ruled out the possibility of him entering into state politics and become Chief Minister.

Following the collapse of JD(S)-BJP coalition government in Karnataka the Assembly had been put under suspended animation and there was still chance for formation of a government in the state.

The BJP was pressing the Karnataka Governor to dissolve the assembly and make way for early mid-term poll, while majority of the JD(S) legislators had put pressure on party leaders to explore possibilities of forming next government either with Congress or BJP.

The JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who was in favour of early elections, was expected to announce his decision on the issue on October 24. Already party legislators have authoraised former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, party state unit president Merajuddin Patel and senior party leader M P Prakash to decide on the issue.

Congress, the main opposition party in the Assembly, had communicated Karnataka Governor that it should be taken into confidence while deciding on the process of installing next government. The party has not yet claimed its stake to form the next government.

UNI