Date:15/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/2008111553760400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Deve Gowda has divided Vokkaligas’

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Bharatiya Janata Party State unit leaders on Friday lashed out at the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his family alleging that the Janata Dal (Secular) supremo has divided the Vokkaliga community for political gains.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, Labour Minister Bache Gowda, Transport Minister R. Ashok and BJP State general secretary C.T. Ravi, all Vokkaliga leaders, alleged that Mr. Deve Gowda had divided the Vokkaliga community by establishing Vishwa Vokkaligara Sansthana Math at Kengeri headed by Chandrashekar Swamy.

The Vokkaliga community had taught a “fitting lesson” to the former Prime Minister, Mr. Kumarawamy and the former Minister H.D. Revanna in the last Assembly elections.

The Janata Dal (Secular) strength had been reduced from 56 in 2004 elections to 28 in 2008.

A large number of leaders, including the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the former Ministers M.P Prakash, P.G.R. Sindhia and C.M. Ibrahim deserted the party owing to “harassment” meted out to them by the former Prime Minister, they alleged.

Several Janata Dal (Secular) Ministers, including N. Cheluvarayaswamy, were defeated in the last elections due to “political ploys” played by the former Prime Minister, Mr. Bache Gowda alleged.

Probe

The Bharatiya Janata Party Government led by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would conduct probes into all “irregularities” that occurred during the Kumaraswamy regime, they said.

When contacted, Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda said that he did not wish to reply to the allegations.