The Hindu : National : JD(S) to maintain “equidistance”

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Thursday, Jul 19, 2007
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JD(S) to maintain “equidistance”

Special Correspondent

H.D. Deve Gowda

NEW DELHI: The Janata Dal (Secular) of H.D. Deve Gowda on Wednesday announced that it would maintain “equidistance” from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Presidential election.

“The party will not issue any whip to its MPs and MLAs. The Janata Dal (Secular) MPs and MLAs have resolved to strictly adhere to the party’s consistent stand of maintaining equidistance from both the UPA and the NDA in the Presidential election,” Mr. Gowda said in a statement.

The decision was taken after consultations with the national and State leaderships.

The Congress had sought the services of senior leader M.L. Fotedar to discuss the issue with Mr. Gowda. Before making the announcement, Mr. Gowda spoke to Prime Minster Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Gowda said that the JD(S) was committed to maintaining equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP but due to “unavoidable circumstances” and with a view not to burden the people of Karnataka with frequent elections, the party entered into an alliance with both parties from time to time, which was “purely a local arrangement.”

The present arrangement with the BJP was based on the agenda of developing Karnataka, without compromising on secularism and socialism.

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