The Hindu : All-India JD to form units in States

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 15, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

All-India JD to form units in States

By S. Rajendran

Bangalore Dec. 14. The newly formed All-India Janata Dal, under the stewardship of the former Union minister, S.R. Bommai, is now planning to form units in several other States, apart from New Delhi, and discussions with the erstwhile Janata Party leaders have been initiated in this direction.

Sources in the party told The Hindu here today that discussions were centred on those leaders and parties that were originally a part of the Janata Party and the undivided Janata Dal. Most of them were not a major political force to reckon with at present, but in association with the All-India Janata Dal, would be in a better position in their respective States.

Mr. Bommai, who was called upon by the second-line leaders of the All India Janata Dal to take over as the national president, has still not formally accepted the request. But, in all likelihood, will not be reluctant to take over. Mr. Bommai will talk to all the national leaders who constitute the Third Front and, if he is assured of their cooperation, he will take over the mantle.

Sources said that he, along with some senior leaders of the party, would be in New Delhi on Tuesday to hold discussions with top leaders, including the former prime ministers, Chandra Shekhar and V.P. Singh. Efforts would be made to persuade Mr. Chandra Shekhar to talk to the former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader, H.D. Deve Gowda, who has refused to be a part of the new party since he is of the opinion that the Bommai formula is biased in favour of the JD(U).

Mr. Deve Gowda has stated that it is up to the State unit of the JD(S), led by the former Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, to hold discussions since the new party is restricted to the State.

The fact, however, is that the leaders of the new party did not yield to some of the conditions laid out by the JD(S) pertaining to the presidentship of the party at the national level.

The sources said the State unit of the Lok Jan Shakti, led by the former minister, M.S. Patil, was also keen on associating itself with the All India Janata Dal, if not merging with it. Mr. Patil met Mr. Bommai two days ago to continue the discussions held by the former Union minister and Lok Jan Shakti President, Ram Vilas Paswan, with Mr. Bommai about a fortnight ago. Ramesh Jigajinagi, MP, who was a member of the Lok Jan Shakti, has already joined the new party.

According to reports, the JD(U) President and Union Minister, Sharad Yadav, apparently taken aback by the developments in Karnataka, has said that sooner or later he and his followers in the North would be joining the All-India Janata Dal. Mr. Yadav is reportedly upset with the manner in which the National Democratic Alliance has been treating the JD(U), particularly when the party sought some seats in the Gujarat elections.

The senior leader and former minister, M.P. Prakash, told The Hindu that Kamal Morarka, former minister in the Chandra Shekhar cabinet, had got in touch and further discussions on Mr. Chandra Shekhar and his followers joining the All-India Janata Dal would be held in Mumbai and New Delhi next week.

The Janata Dal unit in Kerala, led by the former Education Minister, Chandrashekar, was also keenly watching the developments and was holding talks with the JD(U) Floor Leader in the Legislative Assembly, P.G.R. Sindhia, he added.

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