Insta
HD Deve Gowda Commends PM Modi, Says Continued In Lok Sabha Only Because Of Him
Swarajya Staff
May 03, 2018, 10:18 AM | Updated 10:18 AM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Even as the their parties are set for a face-off in the upcoming Karnataka elections, Janta Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda has commended Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and said that he was still in the Lok Sabha only because of PM Modi’s persuasion, Times of India has reported.
PM Modi is currently in Karnataka for the last leg of the BJP campaign with most surveys predicting a hung assembly. Karnataka goes to polls on 12 May and results to be declared on 15 May.
Gowda’s remark comes in the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi attacking him during one of his election rallies while PM Modi heaped praise on him later. However, Gowda was quick to dismiss talk of any alliance between the two parties if the results actually throw up a hung assembly.
“Before the 2014 elections, I had said I would resign my Lok Sabha membership if BJP gets a majority on its own. I decided to resign, but Modi persuaded me against doing so. He said the country needs the experience and services of senior leaders,” Gowda said.
The BJP won 282 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, thereby crossing the 272 seat majority mark on its own.
He also said that PM Modi was a ‘smart politician’ and is aware of the ground reality of Karnataka politics. “Modi is aware about the happenings in Karnataka politics, and also what Rahul Gandhi said about me. In this background, he must have praised me out of respect,” he said.
However, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah attacked the PM for his statements on Gowda and said that they were indicative of a ‘tacit understanding’ between the BJP and JD(S).
Gowda also claimed that his party would get a majority on its own in the elections.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.