Mangaluru: Putting an end to the speculations regarding JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda’s candidature for the prime minister’s post, Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday said Gowda was not the running for the top post if the mahagathbandhan or the grand alliance comes to power.

Speaking to the media, Kumaraswamy, the son of former Prime Minister Gowda, said, “If the mahagathbandhan comes to power, HD Deve Gowda will not be the prime minister. He will be an advisor to the government and will take care of the interests of the country.”

He, however, refused to speculate on the name of the probable candidate and added, “The question of who will be the prime minister is secondary.”

Earlier, on February 27, Kumaraswamy had said that if the Congress and JD(S) alliance win at least 20-22 seats in Karnataka, then a Kannadiga can once again become the prime minister of the country.

“In 1996, a Kannadiga HD Deve Gowda became the prime minister after you (Karnataka people) blessed us with 16 Lok Sabha seats. If you bless Congress and JD(S) with at least 20-22 seats in Karnataka once again, a Kannadiga can be in that place (Prime Minister),” Kumaraswamy had said while addressing a rally in Mandya.

Seven phase elections in the country will begin on April 11 and will go on till May 19. Counting of votes will be done on May 23.

Meanwhile, Karnataka will go to polls in two-phased elections on April 18 and 23.