Deve Gowda to attend Modi's swearing in

Bangalore, May 24: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H D

will be attending Prime Minister (designate) Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

"Devegowdaji has received the personal invitation of Narendra Modi and would be attending swearing-in ceremony..." JD-S spokesperson Ramesh Babu said in a statement. Earlier congratulating Modi for his achievements in Lok Sabha polls, Gowda had said he must show his ability and intelligence to ensure the development of the entire nation to the expectations of the people of the country.

In the run-up to the elections, Gowda had stoked a controversy saying, "He (Modi) can never reach his numbers. If he achieves it, then I will take political sanyas", challenging Modi and his team to prove their claims. Gowda's party secured two Lok Sabha seats including his from Hassan.

PTI