by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Bangalore, Jan 19 : In the backdrop of the controversial step taken by his son H.D. Kumaraswamy, Working President of the State Janata Dal (Secular) withdrawing support to Congress party, the former Prime Minister and the National President of JD(S) H.D. Deve Gowda has resigned from his post.

Deve Gowda has called the day of his son's overtures with the party he hated most as the saddest day of his life. "It is sadder than the day when I had to resign as the Prime Minister of India. This is the first sour experience I have had in my 45 years of political life," Deve Gowda remarked while making a brief appearance last evening outside his Padmanabha Nagar residence.

Following his reported meeting with Assembly Speaker Krishna and Finance Minister P.G.R. Sindhya, the former Prime Minister told media persons that he was surprised by the dramatic developments in State politics.

"I have been a JD(S) worker since the pre-emergency days and have never seen anything like this. There may be hitches in the coalition but going with the BJP is not the answer, because JD(S) is a secular party. Joining hands with the BJP would mean going against the basic ethics of the party. It would mean joining with the communal forces," he said.

Deve Gowda, visibly upset and angered by his son's move, is reported to have skipped dinner on Wednesday night and also refused to pose for photographs.

R'murthy is mum

Mysore, Jan 19: "I do not want to react to the sudden political developments in State" said senior leader M. Rajashekar Murthy who recently quit BJP and joined JD(S).

When Star of Mysore contacted Murthy at Bangalore over phone yesterday, he said, "I am yet to ascertain the developments as I was away. Hence I cannot react now."

When his attention was drawn to JD(S) withdrawing support to Congress and joining hands with BJP, Murthy reiterated that he was unaware of the sequences and did not show much interest in the developments.