No split in JD, Sharad Yadav tells EC

NEW DELHI, AUG 1: The fight between Sharad Yadav and H D Deve Gowda over the Janata Dal's chakra symbol took an interesting turn with Yad...

NEW DELHI, AUG 1: The fight between Sharad Yadav and H D Deve Gowda over the Janata Dal’s chakra symbol took an interesting turn with Yadav submitting before the Election Commission today that no split had taken place in his party and that the Gowda faction had committed a “fraud” on democracy and the party Constitution.

Submitting written affidavits to demonstrate majority support enjoyed by him in the party at all levels, Yadav pointed out that JD was the only party whose president was elected under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court and the EC.

Yadav submitted in his 14-page affidavit, along with annexures, that even the returning officer for party polls was appointed by the court and of the 939 National Council members, 758 participated in the voting and 691 voted for him in July 1997. The Council, under the party constitution, alone had the right to remove him and not the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), he submitted.

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Though Yadav did not question the wisdom of the EC in issuing noticeto him merely on the basis of Deve Gowda’s majority in the PAC, he minced no words when he said the JD’s constitution did not provide for even the PAC.Yadav’s affidavit is in reply to the Commission’s notice issued to him after former prime Minister H D Deve Gowda claimed before the EC that he had been elected by the PAC as president and asked that the chakra symbol be given to him.

The full bench of the EC is set to hear the symbol dispute case on August 3. However, both factions sought time till Sunday to furnish the affidavits.Surendra Mohan, a prominent leader of Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal, asserted that the National Executive in 1994 had authorised the PAC to take all “political economic and social decisions.” It had been taking decisions since then, including dislodging the Vajpayee Government and lending support to secular forces.

Secondly, the general secretary of the Janata Dal had presented a report to the National Council in 1997 in which it was clearly mentioned that PAC had taken importantdecisions. The Council had approved the report.

However, Yadav claimed the support of 17 elected presidents of State units, 402 Council members and 109 out of 164 legislators and members of Parliament. Of the 70 members of the Executive, 40 signed the affidavit for him, Yadav claimed.

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He said the strength of the Council had dwindled by 200 members as they had joined various other political parties.

S Jaipal Reddy said he had no idea of the numbers. However, Surendra Mohan said six of the seven Rajya Sabha MPs and four of the 6 MPs of the dissolved Lok Sabha supported Deve Gowda in their affidavits.

He also claimed support of 29 of the 45 existing Executive members saying 25 had left the party. An overwhelming number of Council members were behind Gowda. However, in the State legislatures, he was not sure of support for his faction.