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Journalism of Courage
BANGALORE, Sept 7: Karnataka8217;s Transport Minister P G R Sindhia has said that the emerging second-line leadership in the State Janata Dal needed former prime minister 8220;Deve Gowda8217;s blessings both in the interests of the party and to come back to power in the next elections8221; and that there was 8220;no question of giving him up as our leader8221;.
Addressing newsmen here on Monday, he said the internal problems of the State JD were over in the wake of the appointments to the Boards and Corporations, which were decided jointly by the party8217;s second-line leadership under the committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and including party president B L Shankar.
Including himself, Panchayat RajMinister MP Prakash and Agriculture Minister C Byre Gowda in the list of second-line leaders, he said that there were explicit directions from Chief Minister J H Patel that 8220;we should all stand by him Gowda, particularly now that he is out of power8221;.
Heaping praise on the former prime minister as the main architect of JD8217;s coming to power in the State, he said it was unthinkable that they could 8220;let him down now8221;.
All differences between party legislators too had been sorted out at the last JDLP meeting and the party was now once again 8220;becoming strong8221;. Having recently toured the districts of Bellary, Raichur, Koppal and Mysore, he was confident that the government would be able to deliver its election promises to the people and seek their mandate once again during the next Assembly polls.
To another question on the chief minister, he said all the legislators had expressed their confidence in his leadership as well.
He denied the charge by BJP State president B S Yediyurappa that theappointment of political nominees to Boards and Corporations were a burden on the State exchequer. The non-official members were only entitled to a sitting fee of Rs 100 per meeting which was being held just once a month, he said.
Moreover, in the case of posts of chairmen and vice-chairmen to the various bodies, non-officials were merely being appointed to existing vacancies and hence were not likely to incur any additional expenditure.
Citing the specific example of the loss-making Mysore Acetate and Chemicals, he said the newly appointed chairman would only avail the allowances and facilities currently being accorded to the deputy commissioner of the district who was hitherto heading the company.
On the 100 advisory members being appointed to various divisions of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, he said it was necessary for the smooth running of the corporation.
