Kerala JD-S snaps all ties with Gowda, LDF

The Kerala unit of JD(S) on Sunday decided to severe its ties with the party, headed by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, and also with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state.

The Kerala unit of JD(S) on Sunday decided to severe its ties with the party, headed by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, and also with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state.

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Talking to reporters after the state council meeting of the party here, JD(S) leader MP Veerendrakumar said it asked the state leadership to hold talks with the Congress-led UDF to work out a possible future alliance.

The party's state committee would meet on July 20 to finalise its future strategy, Veerendrakumar said after the meeting, which came days after JD(S) dissolved the state unit headed by him.

He said the state unit had in the last Lok Sabha polls, decided to "react politically" to the CPM's "betrayal" by denying JD-S the Kozhikode seat, held by it for a long time.

Under the changed circumstances, the party asked all district units to come out with their opinion on the next course of action, he said.

Of the 180 council members, 152 participated in the meeting, including three MLAs loyal to the faction. However, two MLAs of the Gowda group kept away from the meeting.