JD(S) political journey will be with Congress: Gowda

HASSAN: JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Saturday was categorical that his party has a long way to go in the state, but the journey would be with the Congress.
“We still have a long way to go, but together (with Congress) we can make it,” Gowda told his party legislators at a meeting convened at a resort on the outskirts of Hassan. Of the 37 MLAs, including chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, 20 attended the meeting.

In his speech, Kumaraswamy explained the reason for holding the JD(S) legislature party meet in Hassan, which had triggered speculations that the party was rattled by reports of alleged poaching by the BJP. The district happens to be the family’s home turf.

“I am touring Chikkamagaluru and there are several engagements in Hassan on Sunday. It’s in this backdrop that the legislature party meeting has been convened here. The government is stable and all MLAs are with the party. Except for a few MLAs who have informed us about their difficulty in attending the meeting due to personal problems, all are attending it,” he maintained.

On BJP’s poaching efforts, Kumaraswamy said he himself sent party’s Nagamangala MLA Suresh Gowda to state BJP president BS Yeddyurappa. “I have records and will release them at an appropriate time,” he added.