Decision by Sunday evening: Deve Gowda

"I am not here to enter into any deal. I have thrown the post of the prime minister away if you can remember," a furious H D Deve Gowda said after his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Saturday.

His Janata Dal-S party, which has 3 MPs in the Lok Sabha, has not yet indicated it if will support the United Progressive Alliance government during the vote of confidence on Tuesday.

Deve Gowda told reporters at his Safdarjung Road home that the country would know his decision by Sunday evening.

He said his meeting with the prime minister was cordial, but refused to divulge any details about the encounter.

When

asked why he had met Dr Singh, Deve Gowda said, "He wanted to meet me and hence, I went there. I have to respect the position. When a prime minister asks you to meet him it is basic courtesy to meet him. I could not have refused the invitation."

Deve Gowda said Janata Dal-S leaders would arrive in New Delhi on Saturday night. A discussion would be held following which a decision will be taken, he said. "I will let all of you know by tomorrow," he said with folded hands.

He refused to answer questions if he was negotiating a Cabinet berth in the Union ministry for his son H D Kumaraswamy, the former Kanaraka chief minister.