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Karnataka: BJP leaders to discuss JD-S conditions

By Vicky Nanjappa in New Delhi
November 03, 2007 12:38 IST

Stung by the fresh conditions imposed by H D Deve Gowda, the Bharatiya Janata Party has sent its senior leaders to Bangalore to hold negotiations over the Karnataka government crisis.

Leading the team from New Delhi will be senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu, who will hold talks with Gowda.

The BJP was reportedly upset with the fresh conditions laid down by Gowda.

They had stated that some of the conditions pertaining to the portfolios were impossible to abide by and hence had to be changed.

Sources in the BJP told rediff.com that at least 6 of the 12 conditions will be revoked and a fresh Memorandum of Understanding will be drafted on Sunday.

The Janata Dal-Secular, however, maintains that support to the BJP will not be unconditional and certain norms will have to be followed.

The JD-S insists on conditions such as protection of minorities and non-harassment of the JD-S leaders and H D Kumaraswamy in particular.

The condition that the two parties will part ways in the event of a Lok Sabha poll will also remain intact.

The BJP leaders will negotiate on conditions such as portfolios.

For instance, there is a demand by the JD-S to give them the home portfolio, which the BJP is not agreeable to.

Both JD-S and BJP legislators say that negotiations will be held only in respect to the portfolios and nothing regarding the policies of the JD-S will change.

Meanwhile, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said there is nothing new in the conditions and they should not be difficult to implement.

He maintained that all the conditions were good for the coalition government and if implemented, would only ensure the success of the government.

The BJP, however, does not buy this argument and says that it would almost amount to surrender if all the conditions are abided by without discussions between senior leaders.

Vicky Nanjappa in New Delhi

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