Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Deve Gowda responded sharply to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s light-hearted remark in Parliament, using a metaphorical tone to describe his past alliance with the Congress as a “forced marriage” that ended in a “divorce” due to what he called an “abusive relationship.”
The exchange was sparked by Kharge’s witty comment in the Rajya Sabha, where he joked that Gowda seemed to prefer a “partnership” with the Opposition but a “marriage” with the BJP. The remark, delivered humorously, drew laughter across the House and even prompted a visible reaction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his response, Gowda adopted the same analogy but gave it a more pointed political meaning. He clarified that he was not present in the House when the remark was made, as he had travelled to Bengaluru for Ugadi celebrations, but chose to respond publicly later. He stated that his alliance with the Congress was not by choice but out of compulsion, and that it ultimately became untenable.
Referring to past political developments, Gowda revisited the 2018 Karnataka government formation, when the Congress extended support to JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy to become Chief Minister. He claimed that the decision was initiated by senior Congress leaders and that he had not fully agreed with it. According to him, he had instead suggested Kharge’s name for the post during discussions that also involved leaders like Siddaramaiah, but the Congress leadership proceeded differently.
Gowda further pointed to the collapse of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2019 as a turning point. He alleged that Congress failed to take action against its MLAs who defected, which contributed to the fall of the government. Emphasising his position, he said that he did not abandon the alliance but was instead left with no option after the Congress “walked away.”
He maintained that these events forced him to reconsider his political alignments and seek a more stable partnership. His remarks underline ongoing tensions between the JD(S) and Congress, while also highlighting the shifting alliances that continue to shape regional and national politics.
