JD(S) leader says decision to withdraw support taken yesterday

Bangalore, Nov 19 (UNI) Janata Dal(Secular) Legislature Party leader H D Kumaraswamy today revealed that the decision to withdraw support to the BJP-led coalition was taken yesterday after BJP Chief Rajnath Singh turned down the 'suggestions' of Party supremo Deve Gowda.

Speaking to newspersons after Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced his resignation, he said the Chief Minister might have realised that he did not enjoy the confidence of the legislators and hence left for Raj Bhavan. He did not want to air his personal views on the sudden developments saying that the party's decision was final.

Replying to queries, he said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's remarks after last week's swearing in ceremony that the BJP led coalition should convert Karnataka into a Gujarat model was also one of the reasons for withdrawing support. ''Gujarat had witnessed several law and order problems and we did not know clearly which issue Mr Modi referred to'' he added.

Asked whether his party would join hands with Congressagain, he said ''nothing was impossible'' at this juncture. However, he was not aware of any such move.

Asked whether the party's decision to withdraw support caused any dent to the image of the party, he said the outcome of 2004 had thrown up the present imbroglio.

UNI