Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda’s statement on midterm polls being imminent in Karnataka sent ripples in political circles on Friday.
Within hours, however, Mr. Gowda claimed that his comments had been “misinterpreted” and he had only spoken of local body elections.
‘No doubt’
It all began on Friday morning when, in response to a question whether the State will see midterm polls, the 86-year-old said there was “no doubt” about it, considering the developments of the last two months. Everything was in the hands of the Congress which had promised support for full five years, he added.
He was speaking to television channels at his residence after performing yoga to mark the International Yoga Day.
Coming amid continued dissidence within coalition parties and the BJP’s reported plans to destabilise the government, this comment led to a furore.
Mr. Gowda, during a recent meeting with All-India Congress Committee president Rahul Gandhi, said Congress leaders should be asked to stop making disparaging remarks in public about the coalition government.
However, as responses poured in and the debate grew over his statement, Mr. Gowda made a U-turn and said he was referring to elections to local bodies and not to the Legislative Assembly. Interestingly, during a press briefing on Thursday, replying to a specific query whether he was asking his party cadre to prepare for midterm polls, Mr. Gowda had categorically denied it.
Speaking to The Hindu later in the day, Mr. Gowda claimed his statement on local body elections was “twisted” by the media. “Besides a Cabinet berth, the party has sacrificed top posts in a few boards and corporations to the Congress for the survival of the coalition government. Why would I speak about the midterm polls?” he asked.
Both Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had been given the responsibility of running the coalition government for five years.
Meanwhile, both the Congress and the JD(S) were also trying to strengthen their respective party bases, which is a natural course in politics, Mr. Gowda said.
CM, Dinesh too clarify
Speaking on similar lines in Yadgir, Mr. Kumaraswamy ruled out the possibility of midterm elections and said the coalition government was stable.
He said the question of midterm elections would not arise and the government would continue to function for four years. He said Mr. Gowda had been misunderstood.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao too stated that there was no question of midterm polls as the government was stable despite efforts by the BJP to destabilise it.
“We have given our unconditional support to the JD(S). Our government will complete its term,” he told reporters.
