Gowda-Dharam meet puts question mark on CM change

A meeting between former Prime Minister and Janata Dal Secular President H D Deve Gowda and Karnataka Opposition leader and former Congress Chief Minister Dharam Singh in Karaikal

A meeting between former Prime Minister and Janata Dal Secular President H D Deve Gowda and Karnataka Opposition leader and former Congress Chief Minister Dharam Singh in Karaikal, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday has once again added a twist to the prospects of the JDS handing over power to its partner8212;the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP.

According to sources, the meeting took place during temple visits by the two leaders. While Gowda returned to Bangalore on Thursday, Singh is expected to arrive later.

The 8216;secret8217; meeting has once again given rise to speculation of a JDS-Congress re-alliance that was earlier settled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh telling the Congress party, during a visit to Bangalore on August 4, that the party leadership was not in favour of undertaking another coalition exercise.

The Prime Minister8217;s remarks came in the wake of speculation that Gowda was inclined towards a re-alliance with the Congress and to allow a Lingayat community leader from the Congress to become Chief Minister, in order to prevent the BJP from coming to power as scheduled on October 3.

The JDS, in January 2006, in an apparent coup lead by Gowda8217;s son Kumaraswamy dumped an alliance with the Dharam Singh-led Congress to form the current alliance with the BJP. A section of the Congress in Karnataka, including former Gowda right hand man Siddaramaiah, is opposed to any new truck with the JDS.

Reacting to reports of the meeting between Gowda and Singh, a senior JDS leader said it was just 8220;an attempt to create confusion8221;. 8220;There is no going back on the issue of handing over power to the BJP.8221;

Kumaraswamy who has been sending mixed signals on the handing over of power has meanwhile complained publicly about the BJP8217;s anxiety to come to power for the first time in south India and has even offered to step down before October 3 to allow Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa of the BJP to become CM.

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He is reportedly upset over recent remarks made by his deputy, including one at the Independence Day celebrations, that he Yediyurappa will be hoisting the National Flag at the main parade on August 15, 2008.