BJP not to partner JD(S) in averting mid-term polls

Now that the relationship between the coalition partners is deteriorating, the JD(S) is once again playing the BJP card. Though no JD(S) leader has spoken to the saffron party, speculation about an alliance is doing the rounds. Yediyurappa dismissed such talk and said, ‘‘Even during meetings with former PM A B Vajpayee, there was no mention of forming a BJP-JD(S) coalition.’’

“Gowda is now saying that he was going to dissolve the Assembly and go to the polls. A meeting between Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna and Sonia Gandhi yesterday seemed to indicate that the state could indeed go in for a mid-term poll by May. In such a case, said Yediyurappa, the BJP will not be party to avert a mid-term poll.

‘‘We have told our legislators to get ready for polls anytime,’’ he added. He also expressed confidence that the central leadership would not direct the state unit to join hands with JD(S), since, he said, that party had ‘‘misused’’ the BJP’s name several times.

But sources in the BJP said that the legislature party decided to keep opne the option of joining hands with JD(S). But the legislators were asked to be prepared for elections, as the party was not interested in knocking on the doors of the JD(S) again. Most of the BJP legislators expressed their reservations over going to polls and suggested they join hands with the JD(S) if the incumbent government fell.

But senior leaders were of the view that the JD(S) had taken them for a ride once too often. Later, the BJP Legislature Party resolved that the option would be kept open only if the JD(S) snapped ties with the Congress.