Kumaraswamy downplays threat to JD (S)-BJP coalition

Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said that the Janata Dal-Seculars support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a coalition government in Karnataka was unconditional.

Bangalore, Nov 4 : Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said that the Janata Dal-Secular's support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a coalition government in Karnataka was unconditional.

Downplaying reports of any tension with the coalition partner BJP, the JD (S) leader told reporters here, "Our support will be unconditional."

He said a section of electronic media was portraying his party in a bad light after JD (S) President Deve Gowda wrote an 11-point ''Memorandum of Understanding'' to BJP chief Rajnath Singh.

"Hereafter, we will not set any condition," he added.

Kumaraswamy took a dig at the media and said that his remarks had been distorted after he met Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Saturday.

He alleged that the electronic media has been unnecessarily targeting him and his party.

Kumaraswamy made it clear that his party was not withdrawing support to the BJP. But, he said that his party would not be responsible for any untoward incident that would occur after the BJP-led government assumed office.

"Neither the media nor the people should blame it," he said.

The former Chief Minister said that he cannot be blamed for failure to transfer power and alleged BJP was responsible for the fiasco.

The President's rule was imposed in the State on October 9 after BJP withdrew support from its coalition with the JD (S) due to differences over transfer of Chief Ministership as per the power-sharing agreement.

Three weeks after a bitter public spat, both parties came together deciding to form the next coalition in the State under B S Yediyurappa's leadership.

ANI