JD (S) MLAs authorize party leadership on next course of action

The JD (S) Legislature Party meeting has unanimously decided to authorize senior party leaders including former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to chalk out the party’s future course of action in consultation with JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.

A formal decision in the regard was taken at the two-day JD (S) Legislature Party meeting, which concluded at a resort near Bangalore on Tuesday evening.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kumaraswamy said the party legislators had openly expressed their views on the present political situation and steps to be taken in the interest of the party.

JD (S)’ state unit President Merajuddin Patel, senior party leader M P Prakash and Kumaraswamy will convey the collective message of the party legislators to Deve Gowda and a final decision will be taken in the next two days.

Though the party leadership had favoured mid-term elections, Kumaraswamy admitted that a majority of the legislators were against polls at the present juncture.

However, he ruled out the possibility of reviving ties with the BJP in view of the saffron party’s belligerent posture after the JD (S) refused to transfer power earlier this month. “The BJP leaders have been attacking me and the JD (S) day in and day out. How do you expect to talk to the BJP. It is all over”, he said.

Kumaraswamy spoke in the same vein against the Congress party and reiterated his desire to face mid-term polls instead of aligning with either BJP or Congress to form an alternative Government.

He also said the JD (S) had not approached any party to form an alliance. “Neither have we approached them nor have they approached us”, he said.