I will take final decision after meeting PM: Gowda

Bangalore, Jul 18: The suspense over Janata Dal(Secular) voting in favour of the UPA government in the July 22 trust vote continued with party President H D Deve Gowda on Friday, July 18 saying that he would take a final decision after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Saturday, July 19.

Including Mr Gowda, JD(S) has three members in the Lok Sabha. "Party's interest will be foremost for me and our decision will be based on this. I would meet Dr Singh on Saturday, July 19 and then take a final decision," Mr Gowda told newsmen after a meeting with party leaders in the city. The meeting which was expected to take a final decision on the matter failed to resolve the issue. The leaders authorised Mr Gowda to take an 'appropriate' decision in the matter.

The former Prime Minister, who spoke to Dr Singh over telephone this morning, said Kerala MP, Mr Veerendra Kumar, who had fallen out with Mr Gowda after JD(S) forming a coalition government in the state with the BJP in 2006, had decided to return and would support him. "This is a happy development," he said.

UNI