Cong trying to put off Karnataka polls: Deve Gowda

Hubli, Feb 6: Janata Dal (Secular) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today alleged that some Central Ministers were trying to postpone elections to the Karnataka assembly.

Talking to newspersons here, he said elections should be held before the expiry of President rule in the State. On power transfer episode in the State, Mr Gowda alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) internal conflict was responsible for it. Truth will come out one day, he added. He said his party was not demanding Mining Ministry to make money, but to provide proper information, since the matter was before the Supreme Court and the CBI.

Mr Gowda alleged that the Congress was wooing the JD(S) leaders, but the elections will prove that party workers are loyal to him. There would not be any fractured mandate this time and his party would emerge victorious with an absolute majority, he added.

He said the governor has no power to change the Chief Secretary, Mahishi. The JD(S) supremo said he would be holding workers meeting in all districts and iron out their misunderstandings. He said the former Chief Minister and his son, H D Kumaraswamy would lead the party campaign in the elections.

Mr Kumaraswamy, however, would not be projected as the chief ministerial candidate, he said and added that the Legislature Party would elect a leader.

UNI