JD (S) to decide stand on trust vote on July 20

New Delhi, Jul 20: Janata Dal (Secular) with crucial votes of three MPs will hold its political affairs committee meeting on Sunday, July 20 to decide its stand with regard to the confidence motion. JD (S) chief H D Deve Gowda, who arrived here on Saturday, July 18 to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, refused to divulge his party's strategy.

Earlier, Gowda said that he would consult his party leaders before deciding on whether they should support the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government during the trust vote. "Any decision on supporting the UPA government during the upcoming trust vote in the Lok Sabha will be taken keeping in mind the interests of JD (S)," he said. The Prime Minister had on Friday called up Gowda to seek his party's support during the trust vote on July 22.

After his party's defeat in the Karnataka State Assembly polls, is looking at the possibility of forming a Third Front with the Left. The JD (S) therefore may not vote for the motion and support the Left. Gowda has also patched up with Virendra Kumar, another JD (S) MP, along with Shivanna, also of JD (S), is looking at hard political bargaining.

ANI