Date:26/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/26/stories/2007112660060600.htm

Karnataka

Kumaraswamy holds talks with party leaders

Special Correspondent

Maintaining party unity is the unanimous view

Bangalore: Leader of the Janata Dal (S) Legislature Party and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday held discussions with several party leaders, including N. Cheluvarayaswamy and H.C. Balakrishna, who have rebelled against the party leadership after the Janata Dal (S) pulled out its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mr. Kumaraswamy told The Hindu that the Janata Dal (S) leaders were unanimous in their view that the party should maintain its unity and integrity.

Suggestion

They, however, suggested that henceforth efforts should be made to prevent any leader from taking unilateral decisions.

At the Janata Dal (S) Legislature Party meeting held on Monday last wherein it was decided to issue a whip to all party legislators to vote against the B.S. Yeddyurappa government (which ultimately resulted in its fall), it was Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy and Mr. Balakrishna who protested and thereafter even threatened to vote against the whip.

Luckily, for the Janata Dal (S), Mr. Yeddyurappa quit even before the voting on the motion of confidence could be taken up.