Kumaraswamy to hold JD(S) Legislature Party meet

With a section of his party MLAs opening talks with the Congress to form a government in Karnataka, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has decided to convene an emergency meeting of the JD(S) Legislature Party.

 

"I will convene the meeting of the Legislature Party either tomorrow or day after," Kumaraswamy, who was irked by the fresh developments that threatened to split the JD(S), said.

 

Annoyed by senior leader M P Prakash's visit to Delhi and his parleys with Congress leaders, including Union Minister Prithivraj Chavan, Kumaraswamy said, "We will hold frank discussions with MLAs and proceed accordingly."

 

The JD(S) Legislature Party meeting on October 15 and 16

had authorised Kumaraswamy, Prakash and state unit president Merajuddin Patel to decide on whether to explore the possibility of forming a new government or face fresh polls.

 

Though the leaders were expected to take a final decision in this regard in about two days after the meeting, nothing was announced. Prakash is returning to the city and expected to call on Kumaraswamy and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda.

 

Kumaraswamy, who had been favouring fresh polls in the state, said he was not hopeful of formation of another government with the Congress support.

 

Gowda is also firmly opposing JD(S) forming government either with the BJP or the Congress. However, the mood among majority of JD(S) MLAs was not to face snap polls, apprehending backlash in the wake of party reneging on its promise of power transfer to the BJP, party sources said.

 

Some MLAs have been putting pressure on Prakash, a Lingayat leader, to take the lead in splitting the party and joining hands with the Congress.