Date:28/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/28/stories/2007012803440400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Janata Dal (Secular) to hold national executive meet today

Special Correspondent

The party's national council will meet on Monday

Last national council meeting was held in November 2005

JD(S) Ministers have been invited to attend both meetings

Bangalore: The Janata Dal (Secular) will hold its national executive committee and the national council meetings here on Sunday and Monday. The meetings will be held against the backdrop of a section of party leaders having "expelled" national president H.D. Deve Gowda and claiming to be the real JD(S).

Party spokesman Y.S.V. Datta, MLC, told presspersons here on Saturday that "we will show by our strength that we are the real JD(S)."

The Election Commission has not granted any status to the rebel group so far. It has allowed Mr. Deve Gowda to issue the `B' form to party candidates contesting Assembly elections in three States and corporation elections in Mumbai.

Rebel group

The rebel group headed by M.P. Veerendra Kumar, MP, and the former Karnataka Minister P.G.R. Sindhia, MLA, recently held what they termed the national executive committee and the national council meetings of the party. They have approached the Election Commission to lay claim to the party symbol and flag. This claim is pending disposal.

The last national council meeting of the party was also held in Bangalore in November 2005 soon after the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his associates claimed to be the real JD(S) and sought to expel Mr. Deve Gowda from the party.

Mr. Datta said most of the members of the 55-strong national executive committee would attend Sunday's meeting. Apart from the members appointed by the national president there are 20 special invitees. All the JD(S) Ministers of the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led Government, including Zameer Ahmed Khan, who recently resigned as Minister, have been invited to attend both the national executive committee and national council meetings.

Organisational polls

Mr. Deve Gowda is expected to announce organisational elections of the party during the two-day meet. Organisational elections in the erstwhile Janata Dal were last held in 1985 after which the party has split several times.

A public rally will be held at the Bangalore Palace grounds on Monday.