The Janata Dal (Secular) will form a pre-poll alliance with the Sharad Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party, former Prime Minister and JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda said in Belagavi on Monday.
He told presspersons that the first round of talks with Mr. Pawar was over and he would be meeting the NCP supremo in a few days again.
“We tied up with BSP as we did not want to work with the two major national parties — the Congress and the BJP. In our campaigns, we will not speak against these two parties. We will seek votes on the basis of our performance in the past. We are confident of victory. We will form the government in the State this time,” he said.
Ashok Kheny
“I will not say much about Ashok Kheny’s induction into the Congress party. Senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge himself has expressed dissatisfaction about it,” Mr. Deve Gowda said.
The JD(S) president said, “Morarji Desai, former PM, said that the Belagavi border issue had been settled. He had advised Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti leaders not to pursue it. It is before the Supreme Court and I will not comment on it.”
P.G.R. Sindhia and senior leaders participated in the JD(S) rally in Belagavi. Mr. Deve Gowda expressed confidence of winning many of the 18 seats in Belagavi district.
He added, “Satish Jarkiholi, former Minister, is a trusted follower of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. I don’t know what has resulted in a difference of opinion between them.” He did not comment on the possibility of Satish Jarkiholi joining the JD(S) but only said that each of the Jarkiholi brothers were in a different party.
