Be ready for war, Gowda tells party

Janata Dal (S) chief H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday warned party workers of the possibility of early elections in the state, asking them to be ready for a ‘‘war.’’

Addressing the workers after inaugurating a membership drive on Thursday, the former prime minister alleged that a section of the Congress was pressurising its high command to force early elections on the State. ‘‘If such a situation arises, be ready for war,’’ he added. Saying that he can not stop strengthening the party to please the JD(S)’s coalition partner, the Congress, Gowda said that ‘‘government and strengthening the party are two different things.’’

‘‘We have our men in the government who will implement the party’s programmes. At the same time, the 43-newly appointed office-bearers will strengthen the party so that it comes to power on its own,’’ he observed.

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He said the only thing that made the JD(S) join the coalition government was the need to stop communal forces from coming to power in the state.

‘‘We had a bitter fight with the Congress before the elections. We are not pleased to be with them in the Government either. The situation was such that we were forced to join them to uphold the secular fabric of the country,’’ Gowda said.