Bengaluru: Janata Dal (Secular) which has emerged as the kingmaker in at least 11 zilla panchayats following the fractured verdict, is yet to respond to an alliance offer from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President and Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar.
Sources told Deccan Chronicle that former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) President H.D. Deve Gowda is very upset with the Chief Minister's statement on finishing off Janata Dal (Secular) during the election campaign.
Since then, Mr Gowda is not ready to talk about alliances without consulting his son and State Janata Dal (Secular) President, Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Mr Gowda who is in new Delhi, in connection with the Parliament session, is expected to return to Bengaluru after two to three days.
After his return, the Janata Dal (Secular) supremo is expected to hold parleys with party legislators and Mr Kumaraswamy on whether to accept the alliance proposal from the Congress to come to power in the 11 zilla panchayats and win the chairperson’s post.
Meanwhile, Dr Parameshwar said that his Congress party was ready for an alliance with any secular party, where the electorate had given a fractured verdict.
Sources in Janata Dal (Secular) said that the father-son duo were not happy with the attacks by Mr Siddaramaiah after Mr Kumaraswamy ‘exposed’ the expensive watch being used by the Chief Minister.
Mr Siddaramaiah too had accused Mr Kumaraswamy of possessing expensive cars and watches.
Earlier, Mr Kumaraswamy was upset with his father giving the green signal for an alliance with the Congress party after the fractured verdict in the elections to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council.
Now, sources said that the ball is in Mr Gowda's court and he has to decide on accepting the alliance proposal made by Congress leaders. Mr Kumaraswamy was not available for comment.
‘Sore’ HDK: No comment
While JD(S) state president Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy refused to comment on the poor show in the Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections, party patriarch Mr H.D. Deve Gowda put a brave front saying he was not disheartened by the results.
Blaming caste and money factor for playing dominant role in the elections, Mr Gowda said the results were not a pointer to the likely trends in the next general elections to the state Assembly.
“I and Mr Kumaraswamy were not well and could not campaign in all the districts. I could campaign only in Hassan. We have a presence in all the districts which means we have flag bearers everywhere. I will travel to every district in the coming days and prepare the party for the Assembly elections,'' said Mr Gowda, who is in Delhi.
The former PM said he and Mr Kumaraswamy not campaigning in all districts was one of the reasons for the setback.
However, the issues during the general elections would be different and he would ensure the party bounces back, Mr Gowda said.
Mr Kumaraswamy refused to comment on the issue saying he had a bad throat!
