A day before counting of votes polled in the Karnataka assembly elections, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress on Friday went into a huddle and held strategy sessions on ways to keep their flock together.
Deve Gowda is particularly fond of his grandson and has always considered him as the successor to their political legacy. When Nikhil's involvement in the brawl was grabbing headlines, Gowda senior left not stone unturned to defend him. He was also upset about the manner in which the media went hammer and tongs against his grandson.
Both the BJP and the Congress have their share of challenges, with finding winning horses on top of this list.
The BSP is depending on votes from Dalits and minorities to make inroads into Congress and JD-S vote banks. The party is confident of coming in third place, saying that would be a satisfactory result for its first foray into Karnataka politics.
A free bicycle scheme, transfer of officials, distribution of ration cards and development of airports at Gulbarga and Shimoga -- all these decisions were taken in the absence of its coalition partner, the Janata Dal-Secular.
Janata Dal - Secular chief H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday said the final shape of the Third Front would be known only after the Lok Sabha elections."The first part of the alliance is ready. The second part would be decided only after the election results are announced," Gowda said. He added that "all secular parties will rise to find a solution on forming the government at the Centre".
JD-S leader Siddharamaiah will be the deputy CM.
The cabinet is expected to finalise the date for a special legislative session later this month. Sources in the Janata Dal Secular said that the session will be held after October 15 to dissolve the Assembly and declare elections in the state.
Congress has adopted a wait-and-watch mode in Karnataka in spite of reports suggesting that it might extend outside support to the JDS if the latter severed links with the BJP. The final decision will be taken by Sonia Gandhi when she comes back.
In a new twist to the political developments in Karnataka, Janata Dal (Secular) chief H D Deve Gowda on Saturday suspended Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala and senior leader Jairam Ramesh were among the 10 candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha on Friday from Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana, while counting was underway in Maharashtra after an eight-hour delay due to wrangling by rival parties over alleged breach of voting rules.
Different options to defuse the crisis threatening the existence of the coalition had reportedly emerged at the Gowda-Gandhi meeting but both parties have remained tightlipped on the outcome of the talks.\n\n
He was accompanied by senior leaders.
The JDS group, which was opposed to forcing a snap poll on the people of the state in the event of its coming out of the government, is likely to rope in Bharatiya Janata Party support to form an alternative government.
He claimed that people from all walks of life across the state were angry against this BJP government.
It was a black Monday as a Janata Dal-Secular rally in Bengaluru wrecked havoc for motorists on the streets. People were stranded on the streets for over five hours thanks to the JD-S convention which was held at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore on Monday.
According to party sources, Ganesh's entry was cleared after he met Gowda at his residence along with former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin on Monday.
But any speculation that Hyderabad, which has emerged as a hub of IT industry in a relatively short span of time, might stand to gain, might be premature.
Who do you think is right? Will Murthy's resignation adversely affect Bangalore's development? Or is Deve Gowda's claims correct? Or is it a matter of development versus petty politics? Tell us.
Minor explosions occurred in the office buildings of the Janata Dal Secular and Congress parties in Bangalore on Friday evening, police said on Saturday. \n
Terming his ouster by JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda as an "act of vendetta and undemocractic," sacked Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Saturday, categorically ruled out joining any party, including the Congress.
A day after he defied the party whip and voted in favour of the United Progressive Alliance government's confidence motion, Janata Dal-Secular MP Shivanna was on Wednesday expelled from the party. JD-S secretary general Danish Ali told PTI that steps have been initiated to disqualify him from the Lok Sabha and a letter was being sent to the speaker in this regard.
'My party has taken the decision to vote against the motion of no-confidence and it remains unchanged. The nuclear deal is not the reflection of the nation's mood. It does not represent the people's wish,' he said.
'Ideally, Gowda should ask for a Cabinet berth in the Union government. This would help us build the party and a tie-up for us with the Congress is always good, keeping in mind the forthcoming elections.' says Janata Dal-S MP Shivanna.
Even as Janata Dal-Secular leader Veerendrakumar says that he will vote against the United Progressive Alliance in the trust vote even if a whip to support the motion is issued, the JD-S camp in Bengaluru maintains that the party is united and there will be no difference of opinion.
Eighteen ministers inducted were of cabinet rank, nine each from the Congress and JD(S). Two JD (S) members joined as ministers of state.\n
Former leader of the Janata Dal-Secular M P Prakash will officially be a Congressman on February 27. He will be formally inducted into the party at a Youth Congress rally to be held in Bangalore, which will be presided over by Rahul Gandhi.
Gowda said the campaign will be held in three phases and he will be participate in all three. He also said that a national executive committee meeting of the party will be held in February to take stock of the developments.
The former chief minister says he will start campaigning for his party in another 15 days, although the doctors have advised a month's rest.
The faction led by Prakash, which had cut off ties with the JD-S after citing differences with party chief H D Deve Gowda and his sons, will hold a meeting on Thursday to decide on the next course of action.
PGR Scindia, a veteran who had spent over 10 years in the JD-S follows senior leader MP Prakash and quits the party.
H D Deve Gowda and his sons did everything in the book to prevent Prakash from leaving the party. However, their attempts were unsuccessful and Prakash stuck to his guns.
In his plea, Gowda seeks an order restraining the producer of the film from making derogatory remarks against him and his family.
"The split will have no impact on the party. Alternative arrangements are being made to head the party in places where some of our party leaders resigned", he said.
It was a decision waiting to be taken officially. Senior Janata Dal-Secular leader M P Prakash on Wednesday quit the party.
While all political parties in Karnataka have entered into poll mode, the Janata Dal-Secular, a key player is yet to sort out plenty of problems with the rebels in the party getting more rebellious.
He rubbished claims that Kumaraswamy was set to leave the JD-S and said that the JD-S would soon begin its election campaign.
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