JD(S) will stay in NDA, asserts Deve Gowda

Deve Gowda reaffirms JD(S)'s commitment to NDA, criticizing Congress and highlighting the party's achievements at a Vijayapura rally.

The alliance of Janata Dal(S) with the BJP is strong and the party will continue to stay in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the future, the former Prime Minister and party supremo H.D. Deve Gowda said in Vijayapura on Friday.

He was speaking at a rally organised to celebrate 25 years of the founding of the party.

“Some people may say we may not stay in the NDA. That is all false. We are in the NDA and will stay here. We are part of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has power and the capacity to lead this country to a bright future,” the former PM said.

Mr. Gowda hoped Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will become the next Chief Minister. He traced his term as Prime Minister, Chief Minister and the tenure of his son [Kumaraswamy] as Chief Minister and said that they both have taken several pro-people steps to develop the State.

“Mr. Modi knows about loan waiver, the Gram Vastyavya [village stay] and all that. He knows which set of leaders is right to lead Karnataka. He knows fully the good governance that was given by Mr. Kumaraswamy, as Chief Minister. A day will come when Mr. Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah will choose the right leaders for the government here. They are politically mature and understanding leaders. They understand the political support offered to them by Janata Dal(S). It is left to the two leaders to make Mr. Kumaraswamy the next Chief Minister of the State,” he said.

“On the one hand, Mr. Modi is travelling the world and across India to strengthen the nation and on the other, the Congress workers are holding shirtless protest,” he said.