Will maintain equal distance from BJP, Congress: Gowda

Former Prime Minister and national president of Janata Dal (Secular) H.D. Deve Gowda has reiterated that his party would maintain equal distance from both the national parties.

He said that the people of the State wanted H.D. Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister. “It is not that I want my son to become the Chief Minister. It’s the wish of the people of the State,” he said in a press conference here on Friday.

Mr. Gowda said he had been making efforts to secure 113 seats for the party. “We have 45 days. I will not take rest even for a day. Mr. Kumaraswamy is also travelling extensively. If you go and talk to the public at bus stops, you will know they want Mr. Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister,” he said.

Stressing that he would not join hands with either of the national parties, he said the State had suffered at the hands of both the Congress and the BJP. “Karnataka was nowhere on the railway map of India for many years. I sanctioned Kadur-Chikkamagaluru railway track in 1996, though the same was announced by Indira Gandhi way back in 1978,” he said.

Referring to a pre-poll survey, which predicted 70 seats for the JD(S), Mr. Gowda said: “I’m not bothered by any survey. Our target is to win 113 seats,” he said. When asked about certain leaders quitting the party, he said such developments did not require much attention.