JD(S) stakes claim with Cong support in Karnataka

MANDATE 2004

Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) Karnataka unit president K Siddaramaiah met Governor TN Chaturvedi to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition government in the state with the support of the Congress.

Siddaramaiah, who was accompanied by party leaders M P Prakash and P G R Sindhia, also staked claim to form the new government.

As part of his constitutional obligation, the governor, on Monday, had invited the state presidents of the Janata Dal-Secular, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress to resolve the political stalemate arising out of a fractured verdict.

After the meeting, Siddaramaiah told reporters his party had apprised the governor of the efforts being taken by the Janata Dal - Secular to form a government with the Congress.

"The governor has heard our views and given us time to reach an agreement with the Congress," Siddaramaiah said.

He added, "I have not only informed the governor of my election as the floor leader of the Janata Dal - Secular legislature party, but also staked claim to form the government."

While the Congress is ready for an alliance with the Janata Dal - Secular, it is yet to confirm its support for Siddaramaiah as the chief minister.

Meanwhile, BJP state unit president Ananth Kumar said he would meet the governor on May 20, after consulting with the party leadership in Delhi.

Congress state unit president B Janaradhan Poojary is in New Delhi for consultations with the party high command.

Siddaramaiah also told the governor Janata Dal - Secular President and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda was expected to call on Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, after the formation of the government at the Centre, and discuss the modalities of forming a secular government in the state.

The state presidents of the Congress and the BJP are expected to meet Chaturvedi in the next 2-3 days.

Expressing confidence on leading a secular government an the state, Siddaramaiah again ruled out seeking the support of the BJP saying the party was firm on keeping communal forces out of power.

"We have made it clear to the governor that our party will have nothing to do with the BJP. I have specifically told the governor the Janata dal - Secular would form the government with the support of the Congress and me as the chief minister," Siddaramaiah said.

In the 224-seat Karnataka Assembly, the BJP emerged the single largest party with 79 seats. The Congress won 65 seats, while the Janata Dal - Secular bagged 58 seats. Independents won three seats and other regional parties 17.

With the support of 5 MLAs from its ally "" Janata Dal-United "" the BJP has a strength of 84 legislators in the House.

Meanwhile, outgoing Chief Minister SM Krishna said his party favoured a coalition government on the lines of Maharashtra, where the Congress heads the state with the National Congress Party (NCP) holding the posts of deputy chief minister and Assembly Speaker.

"It is for the party high command to decide on the coalition government. Our view is that we should have a Maharashtra-type government in Karnataka since neither the Congress nor the Janata Dal-Secular are in a position to form the next government on its own," Krishna said.