M A I N   N E W S

Gowda writes to Sonia, sets conditions
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, January 22
The scene at former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) National President H.D. Deve Gowda’s house speaks aptly of the political drama being enacted in Karnataka. Gowda may be seen pouting at the betrayal by his son H.D. Kumaraswamy but the mood of his party workers speaks for itself.

Rather than castigating Kumaraswamy and rallying behind the former Prime Minister, party workers are in a buoyant mood at the prospect of capturing power in the state. Kumaraswamy is being projected as a man who was bold enough to put the Congress “in its place” and is being lionised. Posters of Kumaraswamy are being put up outside the house, announcing his arrival on the political scene in Karnataka as a Chief Minister-in-waiting.

Mr Gowda himself is yet to “bless” his recaltriant son but has given him a “lease of life” by deciding not to hold a meeting of the party executive before January 27, the day set for the present coalition government to prove its majority on the floor of the House. Mr Gowda could have upset things by taking disciplinary action against his son before January 27, it is being felt.

The former Prime Minister is still indulging in brinkmanship, giving hope to a demoralised Congress in the state. He has written a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, setting nine conditions even as he has stated that it would be difficult for him to change the decision of his son, who is sunning himself in Goa with a breakaway group of JD(S) legislators. Mr Gowda’s conditions include sharing power on the Maharashtra model in the state.

Besides, Mr Gowda also wants the Congress to end its secret links with former Deputy Chief Minister Sidaramaiah, who was expelled from the JD (S) by him. The Congress links with Siddaramaiah had resulted in losses for the JD (S) in the recent panchayat elections. Mr Gowda also wants Ms Sonia Gandhi to intervene directly to resolve the political crisis in the state, besides steps like end to criticism of the JD(S) leaders by the Congress and immediate appointment of chairmans to various boards and corporations.

Even though Mr Gowda’s letter indicates that a rapprochement is still possible, leaders close to breakaway faction leader Kumaraswamy feel the son has gone too ahead to come back. They say despite mediations by Mr Gowda’s eldest son and two daughters, Kumaraswamy is bent upon ending the Congress-led government in the state.

The BJP, which had earlier been upset at the one week time given to the Dharam Singh government to prove its majority, seems to be smelling power.