Cong-JD(S) non-commital on future of alliance

A day after the collapse ofthe Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka, the coalition leadership, including outgoing Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday remained non-committal on the future of their alliance.

Kumaraswamy also predicted that the political instability would continue in the state.

The 14-month old Congress-JDS coalition governmentheaded by Kumaraswamy resigned on Tuesday after losing thevote of confidence in the assembly after a three-week longbitter jockeying for power.

"Let us see...I don't know. I don't know about the stand of Congress leaders for the future...we have not discussed anything yet," Kumaraswamy told reporters on the issue of the alliance ahead of a meeting with his party legislators.

JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy, who is the JDS legislature party leader and party state unit chief, were part of the meeting with party legislators.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kumaraswamy said MLAs have been advised to strengthen the party and they have also taken the responsibility to work towards it.

Not wishing to discuss on the alliance with Congress, he said, "I don't know...Congress leaders have not discussed the issue with us...they are very free and we are also very free.

If the coalition works out and if they want, we will join hands with them. Otherwise we will work ourselves and strengthen our party."
Stating that his party has already petitioned the Speaker for disqualification of three rebel party MLAs who resigned, Kumaraswamy, in response to a question on whether he has regrets about the coalition said, "...whatever issues we have taken, there is no regret."
Looking at the developmentstaking place, more than public representatives,responsibility of officials will be important in fulfillingthe needs of the people. This is what I have advised them."