Bengaluru, Dec 15 (Agencies): Following the debacle in the recently concluded assembly by-elections, JD(S) MLA G T Devegowda has said that it would have been better if his party had supported the BJP rather than going alone.
In the recent bypolls, the JD(S) failed to win any seats while the BJP won 12 of 15 seats, thus increasing its tally to 117 (minus speaker) and securing a majority in the 225-member assembly.
Known for being close to some BJP leaders, Devegowda said on Saturday December 14 that despite the poor performance of the JD(S), he will not go to any party now and will wait and watch till the next assembly elections due in 2022.
"Decision will be taken after seeing which way the politics goes after three years," the Chamundeshwari MLA told reporters at Bengaluru.
Devegowda said that political polarisation happens once in five years around general elections and, hence, there will be political polarisation in Karnataka after three years when the assembly elections take place.
"It is around that time that it will be decided who goes where and who stays in the party," Gowda added.
He however, made it clear that he would wait and watch till the next assembly elections.
"I am in the JD(S) now and I will work as a JD(S) MLA for the development of my area. I will not go to any party now," the JD(S) leader clarified.
The JD(S) MLA was emphatic that the party should have supported the ruling BJP in the by-elections.
"There was a need to support the ruling party. Let people decide -- if they (BJP) do good then they will come back. If not, then there will be a change," Gowda pointed out.
"In Karnataka, people gave their verdict. They are wise. They voted for a stable government and gave complete majority (to BJP), so that there is no infighting and bickering.
"Yediyurappa is the chief minister. Let development happen under his leadership," Devegowda said.
During the bypolls, he stayed aloof from campaigning in Hunsur and other places.
At the height of turmoil in Karnataka politics when 17 MLAs were disqualified for anti-party activities in July leading to the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) government, Devegowda had said that the JD(S) should support the BJP and remain in the ruling side.