The former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) national president, H.D. Deve Gowda, has said he will have no reservations about supporting Samajwadi Party’s chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to the post of Prime Minister after the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Gowda anticipated a political condition similar to that in 1996, after the 2014 elections. He would support Mr. Yadav in case the SP chief got a chance to head the third front government like in 1996 when he himself headed the United Front government at the Centre.
Mr. Gowda said Mr. Singh was his Cabinet colleague in the 1996 United Front government, holding the key portfolio of defence. He had the experience and capacity to be in the top political post of the country, he said. Mr. Gowda made it clear that he had no aspiration for the post, but his party would have a say in the formation of the government after 2014 elections.
Sway of regional parties
Analysing the political condition in the country, he said the recent election results showed that one State after another was falling into the lap of regional parties. In all likelihood, the next mandate would be in favour of regional parties forming the government.
About the possibilities of a third political alternative to the Congress and BJP-led alliances, under the leadership of the Left, he said it would be better than others as the regional parties had greater consensus with the Left parties in matters of economic policies. It was mainly because of the wrong economic policies that the people were losing faith in national parties. Hence, a third political alternative under the leadership of the Left parties will work out well,” he said.
