Janata Dal-Secular to prepare for polls in Karnataka, says Devegowda

Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) President and former Prime Minister H.D.Devegowda today announced that his party would seek a fresh mandate from the peoplein the wake of the Congress backing off from a coalition tie-up for government formation.

Bangalore, Oct.25 : Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) President and former Prime Minister H.D.Devegowda today announced that his party would seek a fresh mandate from the peoplein the wake of the Congress backing off from a coalition tie-up for government formation.

"With the Congress bringing the curtains down on government formation, the only course left for us is to gear up for elections," Devegowda told reporters here.

"BJP has already annnounced that it will face elections. The Congress has pulled the curtain down on government formation. We are the only third party left in the state. We should keep these developments in mind and go ahead strengthening and preparing the party for elections," Devegowda said.

"The question of waiting for a call by the Congress for an invitation to form the government does not arise at all now. The Congress has its own right to reject any offer. Where is the question of being humiliated?," he shot back while answering a query.

Senior JD(S) leaders met here on Thursday and announced a decision in favour of elections, he said.

Devegowda said the list of contesting candidates would be announced by November 15.

Gowda, who began the exercise of restructuring district units and sorting out differences among partymen on Thursday with a meeting with districts units of Uttara Kannada and Dharwad, said he would complete it by November 1.

He also announced that he would be launching a statewide electioneering campaign from November 2.

He expressed confidence about the party putting up a good show in the upcoming elections, drawing inspiration from the JD-S' performance in the recent urban local bodies polls.

When his attention was drawn to the state assembly being kept under suspended animation, he said "it is the responsibility of the Governor Rameshwar Thakur to dissolve the House and facilitate seeking fresh mandate from people."

He, however, defended the Delhi mission undertaken by former state Home Minister M P Prakash, remarking it was done in consonance with the opinion expressed by MLAs to explore the possibility of forming a government with the Congress.

The BJP has accused its former coalition partner JDS of trying to create confusion in the minds of people on formation of another government in the state with Congress' support.

"There is no possibility of formation of a government in Karnataka. JDS is trying to create confusion in the minds of people", former deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa told reporters while reacting to the attempts being made by JDS to lure Congress.

He questioned Governor Thakur's decision not invite the BJP to form the government after H D Kumaraswamy Government had resigned.

Ruling out revival of ties with JDS, Yediyurappa said there was no need for any discussion with that party and BJP was ready for polls.

ANI