JD(S) miffed at 'campaign against family'

BANGALORE: The “campaign against Devegowda family” unleashed by three BJP leaders of Bellary has forced the JD(S) to stall power transfer to the saffron party, according to sources. The former prime minister and JD(S) supremo poured scorn on these leaders — tourism minister Sriramulu, suspended MLC G Janardhana Reddy and his brother G Karunakar Reddy, MP — during the brief talks he had with senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, sources close to Mr Gowda said.

Mr Gowda hit out at the BJP for its failure to rein in these leaders, who constantly tried to sully the image of his son, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and his family members. Janardhana Reddy, a mine owner himself, stunned the JD(S) by levelling charges in June last year that Rs 150-crore bribe was collected from mine owners of Bellary by chief minister and his family members.

Mr Reddy, in his allegations, also accused forest minister C Chennigappa and home minister MP Prakash of being involved in this and even filed a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking a direction for a CBI investigation into the issue. The petition is still pending before the apex court.

Mr Reddy, continuing his tirade against Mr Kumaraswamy and family members of Mr Gowda, had vowed to “expose” them. Mr Gowda, who maintained a long silence, in spite of the charges made against his family, had asked Mr Sinha how he could expect the JD(S) to continue supporting the government in such a situation.

The sources said that Mr Gowda questioned the reasons for the BJP maintaining silence over these unsavoury developments, despite being in coalition with the JD(S). Mr Gowda pointed out that some top BJP functionaries even shared a public platform with these leaders.

The former prime minister, who stepped into the power transfer parleys, assuming a role for himself and his party after his son unilaterally struck the pact with the BJP 20 months ago, told Mr Sinha that he was not at all satisfied by the resignation of Sriramulu. Neither the JD(S) nor Mr Kumaraswamy had sought Sriramulu’s resignation, Mr Gowda pointed out during his talks with Mr Sinha. The former PM also referred to the people’s verdict being in favour of the JD(S) in the urban local bodies elections. The sources said the JD(S) is now more inclined towards calling off its coalition ties with the BJP and facing a mid-term election to the state Assembly.