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Journalism of Courage
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday played down the split in his party, saying that the resignation by a section of partymen would have no impact on the JD(S).
“The split will have no impact on the party. Alternative arrangements are being made to head the party in places where some of our party leaders resigned,” Kumaraswamy, whose efforts to avert a split had failed, said here.
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).
