"No permanent friends or enemies in politics," says Deve Gowda

A day after stating that he wants the B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government in Karnataka to complete its term, JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday said there were no permanent friends or enemies in politics.

In what is being perceived as JD(S) softening of stand on the BJP, Gowda, not wanting mid-term polls, on Tuesday had said he wants the government to complete its term as it would give him time to build his party.

Is Yediyurappa an enemy? Siddaramaiah and I have fought in the past, but we also shared a stage in Shivamogga and Ballari recently. No one can say what will come at what time, Gowda said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, In politics there are no permanent enemies or friends. According to situation it keeps changing.

Gowda's son and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy too had recently said his party would not try to dislodge the ruling BJP government like the Amit Shah-led party had done to his coalition government and had opined that he did not think that mid-term polls would be held.

Gowda and Kumaraswamy's statements have come in at a time for the BJP, when it will need to win at least six of 15 seats that will go to the bypolls on December 5, to remain in power.

There is also speculation that the JD(S) may extend support to the BJP if it fails to win maximum number of seats in the bypolls.

Meanwhile, amid some reports that Gowda had rung him up recently assuring support, Yediyurappa on Wednesday clarified that he has not had any phone conversation with the former prime minister.

As reports surfaced in a section of the media about the conversation, Gowda had issued a statement rejecting it and termed it as "far from truth".

However, Gowda on Wednesday said, he had spoken to the Chief Minister, but politics was not involved.

Noting that no conversation has happened between him and Yediyurappa regarding politics, other than once on some book house issue, Gowda in response to a question said "He (Yediyurappa) is the Chief Minister right? Whom should I talk to other than him?
As a former Prime Minister whatever he says, I will take action accordingly."