By IANS
Bangalore : Karnataka Thursday appeared headed for state assembly elections 20 months ahead of the due date as the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) formally gave up on cobbling a coalition with the Congress, though efforts at government formation will continue till the assembly is dissolved.
The 225-member assembly is under suspended animation and the state under the president’s rule after the collapse of the JD-S-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy of JD-S on Oct 8 over their power transfer row.
“Since the Congress has said no to government formation with JD-S, the only course for us is to ready ourselves for the polls,” JD-S president H.D. Deve Gowda told a hurriedly called press conference here Thursday.
Deve Gowda’s claim of the Congress’ rejection came as a surprise as senior Karnataka JD-S leader M.P. Prakash said Wednesday that he received positive response from Congress leaders whom he met in New Delhi a day earlier.
Prakash took up the task of persuading the Congress to form an alternative government to avoid early polls, but he did not seek permission to do so from Deve Gowda, who was angered by the move.
In New Delhi, Prakash met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Prithviraj Chavan and party treasurer Motilal Vora.
On return from Delhi Wednesday, Prakash said that “there is a ray of hope” on government formation and a clear picture would emerge after Congress president Sonia Gandhi returns Oct 29 from her five-day China tour.
Deve Gowda, however, seized on a comment by Chavan after his meeting with Prakash that the Congress was not interested in forming a government.
Prakash was not present at Deve Gowda’s press conference.
“Prakash is at liberty to continue his efforts, but the party’s decision as announced by Deve Gowda is final and all party workers are bound by it,” JD-S spokesperson Y.S.V. Datta said when asked whether Prakash had informed Deve Gowda that he would not go ahead with his mission.
While Prakash declined to say whether he would continue his efforts, one of the JD-S legislators who accompanied him to New Delhi told IANS: “Behind-the-scenes activity to form a government will be on till the assembly is dissolved.”
“Till the assembly is dissolved, attempts at government formation will continue whatever the stand announced by Gowda,” said a legislator who went to New Delhi with Prakash.
“Leaders of all parties are saying they are for elections even though they know that their legislators are not for it. Prakash’s moves have kindled hopes of avoiding early polls and efforts in that direction will not stop,” the legislator requesting anonymity said.
Prakash’s efforts are not likely to lead to a split in the JD-S, as he is not known for such politics. He has been loyal to Deve Gowda though he was annoyed with him for insisting on early polls despite majority of party legislators pleading against it.
“My effort is not to split the party but to strengthen it, and I am making efforts because a majority of legislators is for it,” Prakash said Wednesday after briefing Kumraswamy and state party chief Merajuddin Patel on his New Delhi talks.
On Thursday morning he telephoned Deve Gowda and apprised him of the outcome of the talks with the Congress leaders.
Within hours, Deve Gowda called the press meet to announce an end to the government formation efforts and the party’s readiness for polls.
Even though assembly dissolution is expected only in November after ratification by parliament, Deve Gowda said he would begin poll campaign from Nov 2 and announce the list of candidates for the polls by Nov 15.