BJP unlikely to join hands with JD (S) in Karnataka
Deve Gowda met Prime Minister Vajpayee amid indications that the BJP was unlikely to join hands with JD (S) in forming a new Govt in Karnataka.
Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Saturday met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee amid indications that the saffron party was unlikely to join hands with JD (S) in forming a new Government in Karnataka.
"Vajpayee is the senior most leader and has served the country for six-and-a-half years as Prime Minister. Decency demands that I should call on him after he demitted office," Gowda told reporters.
While BJP avoided any comment on whether the two leaders discussed Government formation in Karnataka, party sources virtually ruled out the possibility of the two parties "entering into a marriage of convenience".
Conceding that BJP remained Gowda's "first preference", the sources said as the party with the largest number of legislators in its kitty, the saffron party wants to keep the Chief Ministership and not give it to any other party.
"Gowda wants the Chief Ministership for his party, which is not acceptable to us. Moreover, we have got this number on our own. If we support any other party for the top post, our voter base will shift which we would not allow at any cost," a senior party leader said on condition of anonymity.
Senior party leader Arun Jaitley is already in Bangalore to explore the possibilities of Government formation in the state.