Bengaluru: A meeting between a JD(S) minister, considered close to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, and senior BJP leaders at a guest house here on Thursday night set tongues wagging but both sides dismissed the meeting as “coincidental”.
Did it indicate that talks between the JD(S) and BJP on forming a new government had started? Mr Mahesh himself dismissed the speculation saying he happened to cross Mr Eshwarappa’s path as both were at the guest house and had a small chat over constituency related matters.
The JD(S) in a separate tweet clarified the meeting was coincidental and there was no need to attach any special meaning to it. It was common for MLAs and ministers to go to Kumara Krupa (KK) Guest House for rest. At that time Mr Mahesh has coincidentally met Mr Eshwarappa and Mr Muralidhar Rao, there was no need to give special meaning to it, the party said.
Muralidhar Rao too tweeted denying any discussion. There is no truth in reports that a discussion was held with the JD(S) minister. In a public place it is a mere coincidence, he said.
Mr Kumaraswamy in a tweet late Thursday night said: “It is unnecessary to give importance to Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh’s casual meeting with BJP leaders at the new building of KK guest house, managed by (state-run) KSTDC which comes under his (Mahesh’s) portfolio,” he added.
The BJP and JD(S) had earlier formed a coalition government in 2006 with Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister and Yeddyurappa as his deputy, under a power-sharing formula of 20 months each. However, the government collapsed as the JD(S) did not transfer power to BJP.
