Tuesday, January 10 2006 12:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The strains in Congress- Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) relationship assumed serious proportions as former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda yesterday (Jan 09, 2006) issued a veiled threat to pull out of the coalition arrangement in Karnataka, an issue that will be considered at the party National Executive on February eight.

A day after his meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee that fuelled speculation, he told reporters that review of relationship with Congress does not necessarily mean going with BJP for forming a government "but may be going back to the people (elections)".

Accusing the Congress of 'deviating' from the understanding reached at the time of forming the coalition, Gowda told sources "if this coalition does not function, according to our understanding, I made a promise to Sonia Gandhi if any strained relationship develops in future, I will first tell you, I will not stab you from behind and then we will part the company as friends.

"I will keep that word on February eight. After our decision in the National Executive, I will go to 10, Janpath and say thank you very much", he said.

Reacting to Gowda, Chief Minister N Dharam Singh said the state was not going to polls immediately but the Congress is prepared to face them whenever they come.

The former Prime Minister said that his party had expelled some party men following some 'friction' and the Congress has taken a decision to tie up with them in three to four districts.

Observing that he had never objected to this development, he said, "now it is for my party in a situation like this, whether to continue with this alliance government or not".

Gowda's comments assume significance in the context of ruptures in the Congress-JD(S) alliance after Congress High Command's decision to leave it to the state unit to possibly tie up with rebel JD(S) leader Siddaramaiah in the post-Zilla Parishad poll situation.