JD (S) to take 'final decision' on confidence vote on Jul 18

New Delhi, Jul 15 (UNI) Janata Dal (Secular) President and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today said his party would take a final decision on July 18 at Bangalore on the trust vote of the UPA government in the Lok Sabha.

Taking note of the speculation in the media that his party would take the final stand at the voting time in the Lok Sabha, Mr Gowda said in a statement he was fully aware of his parliamentary duties and responsibilities and the senior leaders of the party would take the decision on Friday.

Despite being painted as an 'opportunist and betrayer', Mr Gowda said he felt proud that he did not succumb at the time of bait offered by either communal or market forces to remain in office when he was in power for 10 months and 20 days when both BJP and Congress voted against the United Front Government.

He said he was saddened at the latest political developments in national politics where political ideologies, affiliations and loyalties had apparently taken a U-turn overnight. He was also pained in the manner in which constitutional bodies were 'subverted' to subserve political interests and settle scores against rivals.

"There can't be greater threat to healthy democracy and credibility of such institutions", Mr Gowda said.

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