Gowda hints at support to govt. if things go amiss

Bommai calls on JD(S) supremo at the latter’s residence

In what set a buzz in the political circles on Sunday evening, former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda dropped broad hints that the regional outfit could come to the rescue of the ruling BJP “if there is trouble”. “It is a feeling that if there are troubled times for this government, we should cooperate,” he told reporters after meeting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai here. “The (JD-S) party is not interested in going to elections and we have not thought about it as well. The (BJP) high command has blessed Mr. Bommai and everyone has blessed (him). Probably I feel that there will be no trouble. I do not know.” The former Prime Minister said: “Mr. Bommai has the blessings of (former Chief Minister) B.S. Yediyurappa. However, I do not know if it (administration) can be managed by keeping Mr. Yediyurappa out,” he said. Explaining his stance, he said: “We (JD-S) have no desire to go to elections before 2023. The zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections will be completed in 2022. After that there will be about eight to nine months for the (Assembly) polls.”