Consensus eludes partners in Karnataka

Emerging from the meeting, Siddaramaiah said he had appraised the Governor on the resolutions passed by the newly elected legislators authorising former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda to hold talks with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on forming the government.

Chaturvedi was also informed about the informal talks between the Congress and JD(S) chief Gowda during his visit to New Delhi on May 15, he said.

Apart from Congress, Siddaramaiah informed the Governor that some Independents and Left parties are also extending support to JD(S) to form the government. He, however, ruled out the possibility of admitting the JD(U) into the coalition.

The delegation — which included party national spokesperson P.G.R. Sindhia — also appraised the Governor that Gowda will hold parleys with Sonia after the formation of government at the Centre.

Meanwhile, JD(U) legislators, denying rumours that they were inclined to joining JD(S) in forming a government with the Congress, clarified that it has offered to help JD(S) form the government if it failed to get Congress support.

Speaking to mediapersons on Tuesday, state party president B. Somashekhar said his party would maintain its identity and strengthen its base further.

Somashekhar said the JD(U) will continue to maintain its electoral alliance with the BJP in the state and would not join the JD(S), which was in a hurry to grab power by forging an ‘‘unholy, unethical and immoral’’ alliance with the Congress.

Charging that the JD(S) was betraying the people of the state by joining hands with the Congress, Somashekhar pointed out that the party had always stood against ‘‘misrule’’ of Congress in the state.

‘‘BJP-JD(U) alliance is ready to offer outside support to the JD(S) to form a government, if it failed to form government with Congress,’’ he said. The legislator party leader would elected on Wednesday, he added.