Leadership issue on agenda: JD rebels

A dissident leader told newsmen that though the leadership issue did not figure in their memorandum to Gowda, Chief Minister Patel’s stand that he was prepared for a trial of strength in the state Assembly had forced them to bring the issue to the fore.

It was the legislature party which elected Patel as its leader and he had to ensure whether he enjoyed its confidence, he added.

Five ministers where conspicuous by their presence at the gathering. They are Backward Classes Minister Mallikkaya Guttedar, Minister of State for Labour Satyanarayana, Sericulture Minister Varde Gowda,Minister of State for Libraries and Adult Education R Krishnappa and Housing Minister Revanna.

Janata Dal Legislature Party Secretary Jyoti Reddy and Party Whip in the Assembly Vasant Bengere were also present.

To a question by newsmen about the leadership issue, Gowda said it was for the legislature party to take it up.

Gowda would hold consultations with the legislators from this evening. He would meet them individually and listen to their views.

Asked whether he would meet the chief minister, he replied that he was prepared to meet all the legislators. He said at least a dozen legislators had informed him over phone that they could meet him only on October 21 in view of the Diwali festival.

A dissident legislator said the legislators were interested to have a leader who could guide the party in the next Assembly elections which was 14 months away. It was for the JDLP to decide on such a leader, he added. However, Guttedar, differed from the view, by maintaining that the issue was not beingdiscussed now. The attempt was to ensure that the government functioned in a more effective manner. Among other prominent leaders, present at the meeting, was former minister P C Siddannagoudar who had associated himself with the Rashtriya Navanirmana Vedike of Union Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde.

Earlier, Gowda asserted that he would not let the ruling Dal to crumble and would make all-out efforts to consolidate its position.

Addressing a large gathering of his supporters in front of the city railway station here, he said he would discuss with the legislators, who had submitted a memorandum in an effort to resolve the present crisis. “I will not allow the party to be destroyed,” he added.

Gowda said he would undertake an intensive tour of the state from December 1, visiting all the Assembly constituencies to consolidate the party.

Gowda, who pointed to the presence of 42 MLAs in the gathering, said he was not prepared for a trial of strength as he considered all Janata Dal MLAs as his men.However, he wanted to prove a point to his detractors within the party, who, after he stepped down as prime minister, had stated that not even three legislators would support him.