Modi wave swept coalition away: GT Devegowda

Mysuru: Higher education minister G.T. Devegowda on Monday disagreed with state JD(S) chief A H Vishwanath that lack of coordination between the coalition partners had led to the defeat of  its party supremo, H D Deve Gowda in the Lok Sabha elections and attributed it entirely to a Modi wave.

“There was a huge Modi wave in the entire nation and that is why the BJP saw such a big victory in the state. That alone was the reason for the  defeat of both the JD(S) and Congress in the state," he told reporters here, adding that his party too would set up a committee like the Congress to assess the reasons for its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.

Asked about  rumours that he was joining the BJP, he retorted, "I will not do that for any reason. Have I ever said that? Why will I do that? I am the higher education minister and district minister of Mysuru. Not one BJP leader has approached me about this. Just because I am on good terms with BJP leaders doesn't mean I will join their party. I will be in the coalition government for the next four years.”  Minister Sa Ra Mahesh was also emphatic that neither Mr Vishwanath nor  Mr G T Devegowda would join the BJP. "They will not leave the party. We will urge our leaders not to accept Mr Vishwanath's resignation and we will persuade him to withdraw it during the JD(S) legislators meeting Tuesday evening," he added.