JD(S) ready for tie-up with any party but with pre-conditions

JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda is in touch with the winnable JD(S) MLAs and has asked them to come to Bengaluru once the results are out

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: With exit polls predicting that the Janata Dal (Secular) may emerge as the kingmaker, former chief minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy said his party is ready to extend support to any party but has set certain conditions for it.

According to party sources, Kumaraswamy has sent a message to both national parties, the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress that the JD(S) is ready to become the coalition partner provided all the conditions are met meticulously.

In 2018, when the state electorate did not give a clear mandate to any party, the BJP emerged as the single largest party but the Congress struck a deal with the JD(S) and decided to form the government to prevent the BJP from coming to power. If the exit polls predicting a hung verdict turn out to be true on Saturday, then the JD(S) will play a major role in the installation of the next government in the State.

Sources said the conditions put forth by Kumaraswamy are: no ‘big brother’ attitude to be adopted by the coalition partner, JD(S) must be given a free hand in the administration, powerful portfolios like PWD, Energy, RDPR, Revenue, and Housing must be given to the JD(S) and the Pancharatna promise made to the people must be implemented. Any party which agrees to all these conditions can approach him for further discussion, he said.

Keeping the flock together

Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda is in constant touch with the winnable JD(S) MLAs and has asked them to come to Bengaluru once the results are announced. No one must fall prey to any allurement by any national party, he has stressed. Kumaraswamy who is in Singapore, is also said to be in touch with his candidates.