By Express News Service
BENGALURU: While former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, who has good equations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appeared to be his own self, former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy seemed more excited by the proposition of the third alternative force that is believed to be the backbone of TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao’s desire to enter the national political stage.
The latter even stated that the new alternative force that Rao was trying shape up is necessary to “save the country”.Rao arrived at the Gowda residence in South Bengaluru at 1.20 pm, after which the meeting over lunch and after continued until 4.45 pm. Incidentally, Rao was in Bengaluru on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Hyderabad.
It was after the meeting that Rao and Kumaraswamy addressed the media outside to announce the Vijayadasami deadline — the first time that a deadline has been set for the third alternative force, which is planned to include a range of regional like-minded parties including TRS, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, among others.
However, Rao said: “Do not expect now for any sensational news … wait for two to three months … There is going to be a change at the national level, and none can stop it. India will change. It has to change. We have to rise above the ‘isms’…”
Meanwhile, one source privy to the closed-door meeting, informed that Presidential elections also came up for discussions, during which Rao is said to have asked Deve Gowda to take the lead for the alternative force. He reportedly also suggested his candidature for Presidential elections as the incumbent President, Ram Nath Kovind’s term ends in July. However, sources close to top JDS leadership denied it.
