Gowda hints at snap poll

Bengaluru, June 21

In a sign of growing tension in the ruling alliance in Karnataka, former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda today said there was no doubt there would be mid-term polls to the state Assembly.

Gowda said he did not know how long the Congress-JD(S) government, headed by his son HD Kumaraswamy, would continue and it was in the hands of the senior coalition partner.

Gowda’s salvo came amid reports that Congress Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had conveyed to party president Rahul Gandhi that the alliance was causing damage to the grand old party and it became clear in the recent Lok Sabha polls’ outcome.

The BJP had crushed the Congress and JD(S), winning 25 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats, leaving only one seat each to the two alliance partners. The BJP-backed independent candidate had won the Mandya seat. As Gowda’s remarks set off alarm bells within the coalition, Kumaraswamy went into a damage control mode saying his government was safe. He asserted that his father has been misunderstood.

“What he has said is that be prepared for the urban local body elections. Deve Gowda has not said that the Assembly election will take place. He has given a clarification also. There is no question of mid-term polls. The government will continue for the next four years,” he said.

BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa said there was no need for the mid-term poll and people would not like it. “The BJP will not let it happen and, if required, will form the government.” — PTI