Bangalore, May 14: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, whose party JD(S) has emerged as the key player following a fractured verdict in assembly polls in Karnataka, today said the party would take a decision on the issue of government formation on Sunday. The party's prime concerns are to keep its identity and secular credentials intact and avoid another poll in the state, he told reporters at his residence here.

Electorate in Karnataka have thrown up a fractured verdict in which the BJP has emerged as the single largest party with a tally of 79 seats in the 224-member house, followed by the Congress with 65 and the JD(S) 58.


Gowda said that the party's political affairs committee would meet in Delhi this evening to take stock of the latest political situation.
A legislature party meeting has been convened here on Sunday where a final decision on the issue would be taken, he said, adding, "We will have to take a decision keeping in mind the party's identity. We don't want to betray the people's trust.”

Bureau Report