HD Deve Gowda rules out BJP tie-up

Mysuru: Ruling out an alliance with the BJP, Janata Dal(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda declared here on Tuesday that  he was not a power hungry politician and had principles that he would die for.

“When Mr Vajpayee was about to lose his government, he sent me a chit asking for  support, but I refused with a smile,” he recalled, speaking to reporters here.

Claiming that he was sure the JD(S) would be able to form a government on its own following the May 12 poll, he said  he had his own calculations to arrive at the conclusion. “ No matter what anyone says, I have no doubt that we will come to power independently.  Twelve independents, who are likely to win, have already  assured us of support. The BSP will win two to three seats and we will win 30 to 35 seats in Mumbai and Hyderabad Karnataka,  including four in Bidar and, three in Belgaum. This is not an exaggeration.  People who are tired of the Congress and BJP, have decided to choose a regional party, and in certain places they have even raised funds for us,” he added.

Maintaining that the farmers of the state would not betray his party, he claimed it would win all seats in Mysuru district too except for Varuna and Krishnaraja, where it had a tough fight on its hands.

On Mr Siddaramaiah’s statement that it was the late chief minister, Ramakrishna Hegde who was his mentor, Mr Gowda said, “People of the state are mature, they will assess and decide.”

As for the BJP’s claim that its vote share had increased by 3 per cent following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to the state, he shot back, “CM Siddaramaiah is filing a defamation case against them, that is their achievement.”