JD(S) to spell out its stand tomorrow

New Delhi, Jul 19 (UNI) Janata Dal (Secular) and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this evening, two days ahead of the crucial vote of confidence but gave little indication of extending support to the Government in the Lok Sabha on July 22.

Emerging from the Prime Minister's residence after a 20-minute meeting, the JD(S) chief, who has been authorised to take a final decision on the vote said he would make the formal announcement tomorrow after consulting the leaders.

Mr Gowda said he had honoured the invitation of the Prime Minister to visit him as a matter of courtesy and respect for the chair he occupied. ''He is the Prime Minister till the matter is decided in the Lok Sabha,'' he added. JD(S) MP M Shivanna was seen along with Mr Gowda when the meeting took place.

When a reporter asked if he had made any bargains in the meeting, Mr Gowda retorted that he was the person who had rejected the prime ministerial chair when he could have continued in the chair by making compromises.

The party has three MPs including Mr M P Veerendra Kumar, the suspended MP from Kerala. The party will have no difficulty in getting all the three members to vote against the UPA as Mr Kumar too wants to vote against the confidence vote since his future depends on the support from the Left parties in Kerala. Presently, he is aligned with the JD(S) faction led by Mr Surendra Mohan.

UNI MCN PK NS1910