Janata Dal Secular supremo H D Deve Gowda might get an opportunity to play kingmaker again. The JD-S, which has three members in the Parliament, is set to play a crucial role in the trust vote for the United Progressive Alliance government.
The JD-S has convened a meeting of all senior leaders on July 18 to take a final decision on whether to support the Manmohan Singh government.
While Gowda would demand that the mines be nationalised, he would also weigh the chances of creating a strong third front.
Sources close to Gowda say that he would only be too pleased to ally with the Left, which had helped him become the prime minister of the country. Voting against the nuclear deal will also give Gowda an opportunity to mend bridges with the Left Front, which turned against him after he supported the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka.
Gowda feels that a third front comprising the Left, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Telegu Desam Party and the new party -- to be launched by Telegu superstar Chiranjeevi-- could be formed. He also plans to rope in other regional parties from across the country for the revival of a strong third front, JD-S sources said.
The JD-S believes that both the BJP and the Congress will not cross the 100-seats mark in the next elections and the third front will play a crucial part in government formation.
Gowda also has reservations regarding the nuclear deal; he feels that it might ruin the vote bank among the minorities. But he cannot antagonise the Congress completely as he is relying on their support in Karnataka.
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