JD(S) not ready for merger talks with JD(U)

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, OCT. 17. The Janata Dal(S) has made it clear that it is not open to any discussion on merger with the Janata Dal(U) unless the latter withdraws from the National Democratic Alliance.

The President of the Karnataka Janata Dal(S) unit and former Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Siddaramaiah, told presspersons here today that the party would stick to the resolution adopted at its executive committee meeting held on August 12 for considering the question of merger with the Janata Dal(U) only after the latter left the NDA. ``We will also adhere to the July 14, 1999 resolution of the executive committee of the united Janata Dal wherein it was resolved to maintain equidistance from the Congress and the BJP.''

He termed the invitation extended by the Janata Dal(U) for the merger talks as ``meaningless and a waste of time'' unless the latter refrained from imposing conditions, and snapped its understanding with the BJP. ``The Janata Dal(U) leaders, particularly Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde, have been issuing statements in this regard only to confuse party workers. We are consistent in our stand and there is no question of merger talks for the present.''

Mr. Hegde had said that the Janata Dal(U) had constituted a five- member committee under the leadership of its State unit President, Mr. C.Byre Gowda, to commence the merger talks. He had laid certain conditions, including selection of President and office-bearers of the State unit and national president of the united Janata Dal prior to the merger.

Referring to the party's stand for the coming elections to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the Janata Dal(S) would have an electoral understanding with the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the AIADMK. There was no question of even a local understanding with the Janata Dal(U) which existed during the recent elections to the urban local bodies.

On the recent police firing in Channapatna and the demand of the Janata Dal(S) to remove the Minister for Cooperation, Mr. D.K.Shivakumar, from the Cabinet in this regard, he said the party had called for a meeting of senior leaders to discuss the next step.

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Section  : Southern States
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