From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 6: JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H G Deve Gowda maintained an enigmatic silence on whether his party will tie-up with BJP for next year’s Lok Sabha polls and instead asked which party has not done business with BJP.

Gowda, who attended a review meeting of the party performance in the assembly polls in the party office in Bengaluru on Tuesday, claimed that all parties, including Congress, have had understanding with BJP and they have done in Karnataka too.

He refused to answer whether he is willing to take the leadership of non-BJP opposition parties if they form a united front.

Gowda claimed that all parties have directly or indirectly have had understandings with BJP and everybody knows about it. “We have seen it in Karnataka too,’’ he said.

The JD(S) leader said his party has fared poorly in the assembly polls. There is no need to be disheartened. We must find out what went wrong and set things right, he said promising to fight and work strengthening the party.

To a question on whether he will contest the Lok Sabha election in 2024, he said it will be decided by the party when the time comes.

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said the JD(S) will extend issue-based support to the government on matters concerning the people and the State. But the party will perform its duty in the opposition and will fight for the people, he declared.

Referring to Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar’s remarks that he is ready for war or friendship, Kumaraswamy said: “The JD(S) is not interested in friendship and love but will perform its role as an opposition. We will not remain silent with hands tied behind our backs.’’

Kumaraswamy also ridiculed the BJP protests and dharnas over the power tariff hike and reminded that the decision was taken by BJP government. All these games and gimmicks will not fool the people, he said criticizing the BJP for landing the State in a mess.