Gowda willing to hold talks with Sonia Gandhi

The JD(S) supremo is willing to hold talks on defusing the political crisis in Karnataka.

JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Saturday said he is willing to hold talks with Congress President Sonia Gandhi on defusing the political crisis in Karnataka.

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Also, he is hopeful his rebel son,who has joined hands with BJP to form an alternative government in the state, would come round.

After holding a meeting on the unfolding political drama with party senior national leaders at his residence, Gowda said "if Sonia Gandhi has said she will talk to Deve Gowda, 100 per cent, I will meet her. No hesitation (in that). If there are small areas of differences, we will discuss."

"I have never said I have closed the door (for talks)."

Asked if he had spoken to his son, he said "Kumaraswamy is my son".

"He is my true son. Wait and see," he said, when questioned if he was hopeful that Kumaraswamy would return to him, retracing his steps to form government with BJP.

Gowda said the party's National Executive would meet on February 8 to discuss the Karnataka situation and it might even be advanced.

Significantly, however, he said it would not be advanced before January 27, the day when Chief Minister N Dharam Singh would seek a vote of confidence.

"No means no," he said on the possibility of holding the National Executive meet before January 27.

The crisis would be thrashed out at the National Executive meeting "as per our party constitution and credentials."

JDS National Vice-President Bapu Kaldate and party floor leader in the Lok Sabha Veerendra Kumar were among the leaders Gowda consulted.