Date:26/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/26/stories/2006122622460400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Sindhia criticises revoking of JD(S) MLAs' suspension

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Rebel Janata Dal (Secular) leader PGR Sindhia has ridiculed revoking of the suspension of 39 Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs including Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

He has also questioned the legality of suspending senior party leader Surendra Mohan.

Mr. Sindhia told The Hindu here on Monday that the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's action had shown that he was in a hurry to protect his son, Mr. Kumaraswamy, and 38 other MLAs.

"Mr. Gowda has revoked the suspension as there is a possibility of his son losing his post," he said.

Anti-Deve Gowda faction leaders Mr. Sindhia, Mr. Surendra Mohan and M.P. Veerendra Kumar, MP from Kerala, would meet in Delhi on January 29 and 30 to decide the next course of action, he said.

Rebel faction

A rebel faction of Janata Dal (Secular) leaders including Mr. Sindhia had recently removed Mr. Gowda from the post of the party's national president and suspended him from the party at a parallel national council meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram. The rebel faction had appointed Mr. Mohan as the party's national president and Mr. Sindhia as its national general secretary.

However, the Deve Gowda faction of Janata Dal (Secular) suspended Mr. Mohan from the party and revoked the suspension of 39 MLAs at the party national executive meeting held in Delhi on Monday.