Split will have no impact on party, says Kumaraswamy

Senior leader M P Prakash, who hails from dominant Lingayat community, heading the rebel camp, on Wednesday announced the decision to quit JD(S) along with 12 former MLAs and their supporters.

Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, said he would chart out a programme to tour the state from December 16 to strengthen the party, obviously to arrest the damage caused by the split.

Majority of the leaders, who walked out of the JD(S) protesting “dictatorial attitude” of Deve Gowda, represent the North Karnataka region, besides old Mysore areas.

Former legislators like B C Patil, Amare Gowda Byyapura, M Y Patil and Suryanarayana Reddy have sizeable clout in parts of North Karnataka districts and H S Mahadeva Prasad holds key in old Mysore areas.

Rebels ranks were expected to swell in the coming days with Parimala Nagappa, wife of slain former minister H Nagappa, who comes from Chamarajnagar district in old Mysore areas, also deciding to quit the JD(S). Former minister G T Deve Gowda, who hails from Mysore joined the BJP on Thursday, dealing yet another blow to the JD(S).