Dev Gowda rules out BJP-JD(S) alliance after PM's praise-fest

Bengaluru: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lavished praise on him at an election rally in Karnataka, JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday sought to play it down, saying it did not mean both parties were cosying up to each other.

Gowda also slammed chief minister Siddaramaiah for suggesting that his party would back BJP. He claimed that it was Siddaramaiah who wanted to become Chief Minister in 2004 with the saffron party support when he was in the JDS.

Virtually endorsing Modi's criticism of Rahul Gandhi for having 'insulted' him, the JDS supremo also said a Kannadiga had become Prime Minister and"Siddaramaiah tried to "demolish" Kannadigas' pride.

"This is how Congress gives respect to Kannada pride," Gowda, who was the prime minister heading the United Front government at the centre during 1996-97, told a press conference here.

He asserted JDS would come back to power in the May 12 polls, and discounted possibility of a hung assembly.

"Maybe, by praising me, he (the prime minister) wants to gain sympathy. That is all. That does not mean there is an" understanding (between BJP and JDS)," Gowda said.

""In fact, the JDS is confident of forming the government on its own with the cooperation of TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu, Chandrasekhar Rao (of TRS) and other friends in political arena... I do not expect a hung assembly," he said.

"I have been saying this and I will say this"again - we are confident of forming government on our own," the JDS chief"said.

"In remarks that raised eyebrows in political circles, Modi, while launching the second leg of his campaign blitz for the assembly elections, had lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "insulting" Gowda, saying it showed his "arrogance".

Showering praise on Gowda at a rally in Udupi, the Prime Minister had said Gowda was one of the most respected and tallest leaders for whom he had great respect.

Modi's remarks relating to Gowda were seen as extending an olive branch to the JDS veteran to keep the options open for the BJP in the event of a hung verdict.

Hitting back at Siddaramaiah, Gowda said he "wanted to be the chief minister with the support of BJP when he was in my party in 2004. I said no. Now Siddaramaiah is spreading this that I will support BJP," he said.

He was responding to a query on Siddaramaiah's remarks that the JDS and BJP have a tacit understanding for the elections.

The 2004 assembly polls had thrown up a fractured verdict with the BJP emerging as the single largest party.