Gowda’s JD(S) in trouble, his Dy CM skips meet

Fissures in H D Deve Gowda’s JD(S), a main constituent of Karnataka’s ruling coalition, has spilled out into the open with senior leader and Deputy CM Siddaramaiah deciding to stay away from a compromise meeting at the ex-PM’s residence tomorrow.

Amidst speculation that he would join the Congress, Siddaramiah said today that he could not attend the party meet—convened to patch up differences between him and Gowda—as he had to attend a meeting convened by the Union Urban Development Ministry.

Gowda has invited all party leaders for the meeting ‘‘to discuss party organisation’’ and strengthening its base. But after receiving the invite in Delhi, Siddaramiah informed state JD(S) convener Y S V Datta about inability to attend and suggested that the meeting be rescheduled.

Siddaramaiah later told reporters he has been instructed by Chief Minister and Congress veteran Dharam Singh to represent the state at tomorrow’s meeting here.