Former PM Deve Gowda calls on Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda called on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter's chamber in Parliament on Friday.
The former Prime Minister and the Congress chief had a long conversation during the 'surprise' meeting.
The meeting is significant as it comes months after Deve Gowda's JD(S) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), in September this year.
The Janata Dal (Secular) of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on September 22 announced an alliance with the BJP in Karnataka and formally joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Soon after the development, Karnataka Minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge opined that JDS should write to the Election Commission and drop the word 'secular' from their party's name.
He further said that there is nothing 'surprising' in the move of JD (S) joining the NDA as it was 'evident' that BJP central leadership lost their complete confidence in the state leadership after Karnataka polls.
"There is nothing surprising because if you see how BJP was moving lethargically after losing the elections in Karnataka, it was very evident that the BJP central leadership has lost their complete confidence in the state leadership...It is very evident that JDS is their primary partner and BJP has become the 'B' team for JDS. JDS should write to the Election Commission and drop the word 'secular' from their party's name. Because at one point in time, you claim to be secular, and at the same time you are going ahead and joining hands with the most communal party in the history of independent India..." Priyank had said.
He also said Congress will win at the state's Lok Sabha seats.
"No matter how much brotherhood they show it will not make a dent in the fortunes of Karnataka. The Lok Sabha elections in the state will be won by the Congress party..," the Congress leader added.
The JD(S) had aligned with the Congress in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, however, the parties faced a drubbing as the BJP swept 25 out of the 28 seats in Karnataka and even an independent candidate supported by the BJP won from the Mandya constituency. (ANI)