Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

AIJD to merge with Janata Party?

By S. Rajendran

Bangalore Feb. 18. The All-India Janata Dal (AIJD), which is yet to take off after it was informally launched in December last, is now likely to get a new name, along with new political equations and tie-ups.

Sources in the AIJD told The Hindu here today that the party was now likely to be called the Janata Party following "fruitful talks" with the Janata Party leader, Subramanian Swamy. The senior Vice-President of the AIJD and industrialist, Vijay Mallya, was reportedly instrumental in initiating a discussion between Dr. Swamy and the AIJD supreme, Ramakrishna Hegde.

Although the outcome of the dialogue between Mr. Hegde and Dr. Swamy will enable the fledgling party to obtain a new name and the popular symbol of a farmer with a plough within a wheel, it is also likely to create some serious problems.

There reaction to any association with Dr. Swamy among the party rank and file, particularly the second-line leaders, is mixed. A number of them are wary of the Janata Party leader despite the fact that the discussions were initiated by the AIJD. Apart from Mr. Hegde, Dr. Swamy also met the AIJD President-designate, S.R. Bommai, at least on two occasions in the recent past.

The sources said that a change in the name of the new party would be considered only if the Election Commission rejected the application for naming the party as the All-India Janata Dal.

The President of the Janata Dal (U) and Union Minister, Sharad Yadav, and the Secretary-General of the Janata Dal (S), Bapu Kaldate, have asked the Election Commission not to allot any name with the words "Janata Dal" to the party headed by S.R. Bommai.

The commission is yet to rule on this matter since the one-month period for receiving objections, if any, to the registration of a new political party is yet to end.

The meeting between Mr. Hegde and Dr. Swamy has come at a time when the former Prime Minister and the chief of the JD(S), H.D. Deve Gowda, is looking for a merger of the Janata Parivar at the national level.

Mr. Deve Gowda told The Hindu that he was ready to meet Mr. Hegde or any other leader at the appropriate time, should the need arise.

"I will, however, meet Mr. Hegde shortly, more out of courtesy since he has not been keeping good health. A merger of the Janata Dal factions will be meaningful only if all the leaders sink their differences and cooperate at the national level."

Sources in the AIJD, however, said Mr. Hegde was in no mood to meet Mr. Deve Gowda.

The latest developments in the AIJD have further delayed the appointment of the president of the State unit of the party. Mr. Bommai has had discussions with Mr. Hegde on the matter.

According to reports, the name of the former Transport Minister and Hoskote MLA, B.N. Bachche Gowda, has been approved but is yet to be officially announced. Of the other two contenders for the post — C. Byre Gowda and P.G.R. Sindhia — the former is said to have expressed serious objection to the choice of Mr. Bacche Gowda.

There is also the view that Mr. Sindhia could be the choice of the top leaders given the rivalry between the two Vokkaliga contenders.

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