Former foreign secretary Romesh Bhandari today joined JD(S), headed by former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda saying he wanted to strengthen the party in north India.‘‘My immediate task is to build the party to provide an alternative to BJP and Congress,’’ Bhandari said after joining the party. On his decision for choosing the JD(S) over other parties, he said, ‘‘The party has a very bright future even if it is non-existent today.’’‘‘When I contested on the Congress ticket in 1991, I was defeated not by my opponent but by my own party. Now I don’t think the Congress wants me and I did not feel like joining it,’’ he said.Regarding Bhandari’s entry into the party fold, Gowda said that his entry would strengthen the party at the national level. When asked if Bhandari would be entrusted with party work as he has expressed his desire not to contest Lok Sabha polls or become a member of Rajya Sabha, Gowda said: ‘‘Bhandari would be given important party work if he doesn’t want to contest elections.’’
