Congress-JDS coalition crisis deepens, HD Deve Gowda hints at mid-term polls

Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Deve Gowda on Friday hinted at mid-term polls in Karnataka with trouble brewing in the Congress-JDS alliance. “They said they will support us for five years, but their behaviour hasn’t been in line with this promise. Our people are smart. They are watching them ,” Deve Gowda said.

The former prime minister said that after the Lok Sabha poll disaster, the Congress has lost its strength. “But there will be no danger from my side. I don’t know how long this government will last. It is in the hands of the Congress and not Kumarswamy,” Deve Gowda said as quoted by India Today, and added that the JDS has accepted all “arbitrary demands” of the Congress.

In another revelation, Deve Gowda said that Karnataka was formed due to pressure by the Congress and that that he did not want his son HD Kumaraswamy to be the chief minister of Karnataka.

“I was the glue for the coalition in Karnataka. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi sent Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot to Bangalore. While having a discussion, I told them the pain of the coalition I had experienced before. I told them I don’t need it ,” said Deve Gowda.

The former prime minister also said that he had suggested Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge’s name for the post of the chief minister of Karnataka. However, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi wanted Kumaraswamy to hold the top post, and Deve Gowda had to agree with it.