The Hindu : Samata Party in State merges with Janata Dal (S)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 21, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Samata Party in State merges with Janata Dal (S)

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, FEB. 20. The Samata Party in the State today announced its decision to unconditionally merge with the Janata Dal (Secular) and justified it as an inevitable step to fight the Congress.

As a sequel to this, the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, V. Srinivas Prasad, will resign from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government.

Mr. Prasad was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Chamarajanagar (reserved) constituency as a Janata Dal (United) candidate in 1999. Later, he joined the Samata Party, headed by the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, which ceased to exist after its merger at the national level with the Janata Dal (U) whose base had by then eroded in Karnataka. Hence, Mr. Prasad was forced to explore the options available to him and decided to go with the Janata Dal (S), which is perceived to have a strong base in the region.

This was also referred to by Mr. Prasad at a party workers' meeting held here today. Explaining the rationale behind joining the Janata Dal (S), he said the BJP and NDA were synonymous in Karnataka while the Janata Dal (U) had no presence. Therefore, it became inevitable for him to join the Janata Dal (S) to take on the challenge of the Congress.

While the groundwork (for the merger) had been done earlier, the decision to merge with the Janata Dal (S) was announced after a lengthy discussion with Samata Party leaders from Mysore, Chamarajanagar, and Mandya in the presence of Mr. Prasad.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section

Pratham plans camps for children

Man held on charge of murdering wife

Samata Party in State merges with Janata Dal (S)

Pensioners warn of protest