Date:12/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/12/stories/2006021203010400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kharge confident of reviving party

Staff Reporter

Says JD(S) admission on talks with BJP in 2004 will help him do so

Bangalore: Though the N. Dharam Singh-led coalition government fell without completing its term, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President M. Mallikarjun Kharge is confident that he can reinvigorate the party. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's statement that the Bharatiya Janata Party approached him for an alliance soon after the 2004 Assembly election results were announced will come in handy for the purpose, according to Mr. Kharge.

Felicitating the new Chairperson of the Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress, Rani Satish, at a function here on Saturday, Mr. Kharge said Mr. Kumaraswamy had revealed in the Assembly that BJP leader Arun Jaitley approached him for an alliance immediately after the elections. Therefore, it is clear that the Janata Dal (Secular) has no ideology and the party pulled the plug on the alliance with the Congress only to come to power with the help of the BJP.

There is no truth in the claim of the Janata Dal (S) that it pulled out of the Government because it had to put up with "harassment from the Congress" during the 20-month tenure of the Dharam Singh-led government, Mr. Kharge said.

Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly N. Dharam Singh and the former ministers R. Ramalinga Reddy, Nafees Fazal and Ms. Satish were present on the occasion.

Mr. Dharam Singh accused the Janata Dal (S) of betraying the Congress. He said the Congress will keep a close watch on the functioning of the new Government and the policies it follows in the coming months.

The two leaders felicitated Ms. Satish with a shawl and a garland.