In a departure from the earlier stand that any post-poll alliance was a strict no, former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday said the next government cannot be formed without JD(S) and his party would “speak” to those parties that will implement schemes and programmes in its manifesto. However, he was quick to add: “We are not waiting at the doors of either the BJP or Congress. We will reach 113 (simple majority). Based on the same calculations, I’m undertaking campaigns in the State... All I’m saying is that based on the survey report, government cannot be formed without the JD(S). However, if circumstances force (for a post-poll alliance), in the interest of the State, we will speak to parties that will implement our programmes.”
Incidentally, the former Chief Minister, who in the past ruled out any alliance, spoke about such a possibility for the first time in Chikkamagaluru on Sunday. Till then, both Mr. Kumaraswamy and his father H.D. Deve Gowda had insisted that the JD(S) will sit in the Opposition if they fall short of majority.
Mr. Kumaraswamy was, however, evasive on whether the party would give outside support in a post-poll alliance.
