JDS gung ho about alliance with Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM: With H.D. Devegowda and his son H.D. Kumaraswamy deciding to join hands with the Congress to keep BJP out of power in Karnataka, the state unit of Janata Dal (S) is in a jubilant mood. Till counting began on Tuesday morning, JD(S) leaders were keeping their fingers crossed over the outcome of the polls and the future stand of the party. One of the biggest worries of the state leadership was whether Kumaraswamy will go with BJP. Had that happened, the state unit which is part of the ruling LDF, would have been forced to snap ties with Gowda.

But the decision to take Congress support came as a big relief. In fact a section of state leaders including water resources minister Mathew T Thomas and Neelalohith-adasan Nadar were confident that Gowda would take steps to keep communal forces out of power. The party now has all the reasons to claim credit for keeping BJP out of power at least for the moment.

"Our decision is to strengthen secular forces and defeat communal forces led by BJP. The BJP which has influence over a section of media had tried to create an impression that Gowda would go with the BJP. But all these reports have now been found to be totally false. We are carrying out a historic responsibility,” said JDS leader George Thomas. 

The Janata Dal (S) is  likely to get a chief minister after more than a decade and its significant because the party was fast losing its relevance at the national level.  The JD(S) leaders say the Karnataka decision will encourage seular parties across the country to sink their differences and unit to maximise the pooling of all anti BJP votes in the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha polls .