Now, Manmohan turns to Gowda for support

8220;The Prime Minister spoke to me this morning. I will be meeting him Manmohan Singh tomorrow in Delhi,8221; Gowda told the press after consultations on the issue with state unit JD-S leaders in Bangalore.

According to JD-S sources the leaders had authorised Gowda to take an 8220;appropriate8221; decision on whether to support Manmohan Singh-led government or vote against the motion.

In another development, breakaway faction leader M P Veerendra Kumar has decided to return to JD-S and would attend a meeting of the top party leaders to be held in Delhi Saturday, Datta said.

Kumar had revolted against Gowda after JD-S joined hands with BJP and formed a coalition government in Karnataka in 2006.

Sources in JD-S said Gowda has been pressing for nationalisation of mining activity as a condition to extend support to the UPA government.

Gowda wants to bring controls on the mining lobby which is accused of politically being active, especially in the BJP camp. Two JD-S MLAs recently defected to the BJP.