The Hindu : Front Page : M.P. Prakash knocks on the doors of Congress

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Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007
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M.P. Prakash knocks on the doors of Congress

S. Rajendran

Ten Janata Dal (S) MLAs hold talks with Chavan

Congress leaders may leave it to Sonia Gandhi
Janata Dal (S) leadership frowns upon the initiative

M.P. Prakash

BANGALORE: In a development that jolted the Janata Dal (Secular) leadership here, a group of party legislators, led by senior leader and former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash on Tuesday knocked on the doors of the Congress in Delhi seeking an alliance to form a government in the State.

Sources in the Janata Dal (S) told The Hindu here that a 10-member group called on Union Minister and Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka affairs Prithviraj Chavan.

They followed it up with a meeting with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. According to sources, Mr. Prakash decided to take the lead as the Congress High Command had so far not held discussions with the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) president H.D. Deve Gowda on the matter.

There are many legislators in the Janata Dal (S) who are not in favour of elections. The delegation reportedly impressed upon the Congress leaders that they could muster the requisite strength for government formation and sought two days to bring together the party legislators.

The Congress leaders are now expected to convey details of their discussions to party president Sonia Gandhi. Ms. Gandhi is scheduled to be in China for four days from October 26.

Mr. Prakash told The Hindu said he was only working at forging an understanding with a “secular party” which could help in forming a government. “I am only acting on behalf of the legislators who authorised the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and myself to hold discussions on government formation. The legislators have categorically stated that opting for elections should be the last resort,” he said.

The former Deputy Chief Minister said he would call on Mr. Kumaraswamy soon after arriving in Bangalore on Wednesday and convey to him details of the discussions which he had with the Congress leaders. “I am confident of convincing the party legislators that we will go together in government formation,” he said.

It is first time that Mr. Prakash or for that matter a Janata Dal (Secular) leader has ventured to New Delhi for direct discussions with the Congress leadership. In the past, such delegations were led by Mr. Deve Gowda.

Incidentally, the legislators (barring Sandur MLA Santosh Lad) who have made the New Delhi trip belong to the dominant Lingayat community. The other dominant group of legislators in the Janata Dal (S) numbering nearly 25 belong to the Vokkaliga community. Of the 58 legislators of the party, 39 legislators have to come together to split the legislature party.

The Janata Dal (S) group reportedly met Governor Rameshwar Thakur who is in New Delhi to call on President Pratibha Patil; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mr. Shivraj Patil to submit a report on the developments in Karnataka and the administration under President’s rule. This is Mr. Thakur’s first visit to New Delhi after President’s rule was imposed in the State.

Mr. Kumaraswamy and Janata Dal (S) State unit president Merajuddin Patel have not taken kindly to the development but refused to comment. Asked whether they consider this as anti-party activity, both replied in the affirmative, but said they were awaiting details.

Mr. Deve Gowda has expressed his opposition to any tie-up with the Congress.

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