The Hindu : There is still scope for merger, says Bommai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

There is still scope for merger, says Bommai

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE June 22. Even though the differences between the leaders of Janata Dal factions continue to block the merger process, the former Chief Minister and President of the All-India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD), S.R.Bommai, today expressed the hope that the unification of Janata Dal factions would come about before the next Assembly elections.

Addressing presspersons here after visiting Shivarathri Desikendra Swamiji of Suttur Math, Mr. Bommai said there was still scope for the merger of Janata Dal factions.

His "experience" in politics instilled such a hope in him.

On the AIPJD Secretary, K.N. Nage Gowda's offer to Janata Dal(Secular) leaders to cede to AIPJD the post of President of the unified party or that of its State unit, Mr. Bommai said that he would react to the proposal only after the Janata Dal (S) leader and former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, responded to it.

Mr. Bommai's observations come at a time when efforts to bring about a rapprochement between the Janata Dal factions have been all but given up.

On Saturday, Mr. Nage Gowda hinted that the merger was a closed chapter after the Janata Dal (S) declared that it would contest all the Assembly seats in the State in the next elections. Asked if the AIPJD would align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the next elections as the Janata Dal (United) did in the last polls if the Janata Dal (S) went on its own, Mr. Bommai ruled out his party having a tie-up with the BJP or the Congress.

"Our fight is against the BJP and the Congress, and not against the Janata Dal (S)," he added. On the allegation by the Janata Dal (S) that he did not take all sections of the party into confidence while working on the merger formula, Mr. Bommai denied it and said that he had tried his best to take everybody into confidence.

When his attention was drawn to the Janata Party's Working President, Vijay Mallya's claim that the former Chief Minister, Ramakrishna Hegde, was backing him, Mr. Bommai said Mr. Hegde would clarify everything at a press conference he was expected to convene in a week.

Mr. Bommai said that he did not discuss politics with Sri Shivarathri Desikendra Swamiji during his "courtesy" call.

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There is still scope for merger, says Bommai