Karnataka - Bangalore

Decide fast, Gowda tells wavering MLAs

H.D. Deve Gowda

BANGALORE: Janata Dal (Secular) president and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has given an ultimatum to those MLAs who want to leave the party, to hasten their exit before the end of this month and directed the State leaders, including H.D. Kumarswamy and State unit president Merajuddin Patel, to “facilitate their early exit.”

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he said: “I need committed people around me, who could stand with me in good and bad times; who could lead the party into victory in both Lok Sabha and byelections to the vacant seats in the State Assembly”.

He said: “Mr. Patel and Mr. Kumaraswamy should help those MLAs with wavering minds to peacefully leave the party. They are free to join any party they wish to.” Mr. Gowda said: “I intend to start the reorganisation and campaign of the party soon and I need all the good men to help me rebuilding the party.”

The former Prime Minister said: “I have nothing against the party deserters, it is common in politics.” Recalling how 90 MLAs deserted the late Devaraj Urs in the 1970s and went to R. Gundu Rao’s faction of the Congress, Mr. Gowda said: “There are many such instances when politicians have crossed over to other parties when they seek something more. But I have my responsibility towards the party that has a distinct identity. I cannot let down lakhs of voters and their aspirations.”

Asked if the party would have an understanding with the Congress for the byelections, Mr. Gowda said there was no definite indication from the Congress in this direction.

He appealed to the Union and State Governments to refund the actual cost of cultivation for potato growers in the State.

He said that the crop in about one lakh acres of land had been damaged following heavy rain. He said the government has offered Rs. 800 an acre while the farmers have spent not less than Rs. 25,000 per acre.

The Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday paid rich tributes to the former Chief Minister the late Devaraj Urs on his 93rd birth anniversary.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Gowda said Karnataka was passing through a very uncertain phase characterised by money power and caste-driven politics. He recalled the socio-political ideology followed by the late Urs and said his standards in politics were fit for emulation by those who wanted to practice “upright politics.”

Party State unit president Merajuddin Patel said that the land reforms Urs had brought in had liberated thousands of farmers from the clutches of feudal forces. He recalled that it was Mr. Gowda who had fully implemented the Land Reforms Act.

Editor of Shudra periodical Shudra Srinivas recalled the political astuteness and administrative acumen Mr. Urs possessed.

Mr. Kumaraswamy also paid tributes to Urs.

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