Senior JD(U) leader and former chief minister J H Patel on Wednesday told mediapersons, after he presided over a meeting of newly-elected JD (U) legislators here on Wednesday, that his party would not have any relationship with the BJP in the State, but would support Prime Minister A B Vajpayee at the Centre under the NDA banner.

Patel, who congratulated JD (U) legislators for their victory in the recent elections at the meeting, also stated that the alliance with the BJP in the State ``was an act of betrayal'' and Lok Shakti leader Ramakrishna Hegde ``had trapped the JD (U) to form a poll alliance with BJP in the State''. ``The alliance only worked at cross-purposes,'' Patel, who still looked weak after his illness, added.

``There wasnot an iota of election understanding with the BJP, which fielded candidates against our own official nominees in as many as 35 Assembly constituencies. The defeat of our candidates in about 50 constituencies with a margin of less than 500 votes showed that the alliance did not work for the purpose it was meant for,'' he said.

``We are not likely to discuss anything with BJP. The issue of support to BJP in the State and at the Centre is two different issues,'' he added.

He said his party had decided not to create scenes in future Assembly sessions. ``We will not oppose the ruling Congress party for opposition purpose in the Assembly. We want to curb the attitude of dharnas and walk-outs in the Assembly which is only aimed at generating publicity,'' he said.

Earlier addressing the party legislators, he said the tall talk of creating a corruption-free Government and administration remained only a dream in the present context. ``The system itself has become so corrupt, it is impossible to bring it back onthe rails,'' he observed.

He said the Congress had committed betrayal all these years and there was no shame left among Congressmen who support Sonia Gandhi, a women of foreign origin to head the party. He said the talk by both Congress and BJP on the moral values was `bogus'. ``The National Democratic Alliance itself is full of contradictions. We cannot expect an Alladin's lamp from the Vajpayee Government. I do not how Vajpayee will overcome this. I wish him all the best,'' he added.

Coming heavily on the process on the elections in the country, he said, ``Liquor and money has become the national agenda in the elections of recent times. We belong to a generation which is progressing towards a most dangerous development. In the State, we were compelled to make a mistake because the prevailing political situation warranted it,'' he said.

Patel also expressed his surprise on the non-inclusion of NDA leader Ramakrishna Hegde in the Union Cabinet. The meeting also endorsed Patel, JD (U) president C ByreGowda and Hegde to elect the party floor leader, deputy leader and chief whip to the new Assembly.