BJP for long-term alliance with Kumaraswamy

      Bangalore: The BJP has offered a long-term alliance with the H D Kumaraswamy-led Janata Dal (Secular) and vowed to make the new ruling coalition in Karnataka a "successful" one. Party vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu said that "We want to work on the basis of a long term alliance with the JD(S)", Naidu said after presiding over the BJP's legislature party meeting in Bangalore. The meeting took place after the BJP- JD(S) combine had won the vote of confidence in the Karnataka Assembly. "Kumaraswamy has proposed to us that they want to have a long term friendship. We are happy with the proposal and are willing to work together on a long term basis," Naidu said.

    He, however, refused to elaborate the nature of the long term alliance, saying those issues would be decided at an appropriate time. Seeking to allay apprehensions that the BJP would impose its ideology on the JD(S), Naidu said "the BJP is proud of its ideology. We are not shy to talk about it. But there is no question of forcing our ideology on others." The BJP, he said, would finalise a common agenda to guide the functioning of the coalition government and set up two coordination committees -- one at the government level and the other at the party-level by the end of the month. An agenda on how the two parties would coordinate with each other in various areas is also being prepared, he added. Blaming the Congress for the collapse of its coalition government with the JD(S) as it had "failed" to follow the coalition dharma, Naidu assured the people of the state that his party "will adhere to the coalition dharma." "Our opponents who are trying to rake up controversies on secular plank will be disappointed," he said, adding the BJP had the experience of running a 23-party coalition at the Centre without controversies and conflict of ideologies. Turning to the events that unfolded during the debate on the motion of confidence moved by Kumaraswamy in the assembly, he lamented that the Congress did not behave in a dignified manner and did "not show the grace" while stepping down. The JD(S)-BJP combine's victory yesterday demonstrated that the 2004 election mandate for formation of a non-Congress government had been honoured, he said.

     Seeking to give a clean chit to Gowda following speculations about his role in the formation of a new government with the BJP's support, Naidu said "we have not dealt with Gowda and (done it) only with Kumaraswamy." The BJP will not interfere in the JD(S) internal affairs either "covertly or overtly", he said. With the expansion of the ministry on the cards and aspirants outnumbering the ministerial berths, Naidu told the MLAs on the need to change their mindset as they are partners of the ruling party and asked them to maintain discipline and display commitment. The BJP has decided to go it alone in the coming assembly elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, he said.

Kumaraswamy takes 14 hours to win confidence vote
by Kestur G.Vasuki

     The BJP-JD(S) ministry, headed by H D Kumaraswamy, in Karnataka won a vote of confidence in the state assembly five days after assuming office on Wednesday. A total of 138 members voted in favour of the motion moved by Kumaraswamy. Sixty-six members of the House voted against it. Kumaraswamy proved the majority of his coalition government two days before the eight-day deadline set for it by Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi. The support mustered by the Kumaraswamy ministry went beyond the projected combined strength of 126, comprising BJP 79, JD(S) 37, JD(U) and independents five each. The added numerical strength came from some MLAs loyal to Kumaraswamy's father and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, including senior leaders D Manjunath and M P Prakash, and more independents. The combined tally of 138 is well above the magic figure of 113 required to enjoy simple majority in the 224-member house. Avoiding a whip, the JD(S) led by Kumaraswamy had appealed to cast "conscience vote," in an apparent move to avoid senior leaders loyal to Gowda being put into an awkward spot. BJP had issued a whip to its members to vote in favour of the motion. After nearly 14 hours of proceedings before the house was adjourned sine die, the motion expressing confidence in the ministry was put to voice vote but leader of opposition and former chief minister N Dharam Singh pressed for division of votes.

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