State JD has become weak, says Patel

BANGALORE, MAY 31: Chief Minister J H Patel on Sunday admitted that the State Janata Dal had weakened, but said the party was sure to com...

BANGALORE, MAY 31: Chief Minister J H Patel on Sunday admitted that the State Janata Dal had weakened, but said the party was sure to come back to power.

Patel listed his Government8217;s achievements in the irrigation, power, education and health sectors and said it would be a one-party rule in the State in future and not a coalition government.

8220;It will be a distant dream for the Yediyurappas and Kharges to come back to power,8221; Patel said at a meet-the-press programme.

Patel said differences among his party leaders had been sorted out and everyone had agreed to work unitedly. 8220;There are differences in every party. Look at the BJP in Gujarat and the situation in the Congress at the national level,8221; he said, adding his party8217;s image and his government8217;s achievements could be seen in the villages rather than in Bangalore, where only 8220;political mischief8221; took place frequently.

He said his relationship with former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had improved and added there was no chance of his joining Lok Shakti leader Ramakrishna Hegde, who had, 8220;unfortunately got into the BJP8217;s bad company8221; 8212; this, he said, would drive the country to destruction.

Patel also wanted the people to reaffirm their faith in one party at the national level so that an unstable coalition could be avoided at the Centre. 8220;For this, we have to wait for some more time, maybe two or more Lok Sabha elections. The dream of a Third Front may also be realised by that time,8221; he hoped.

On the issue raised by expelled Congress leader Sharad Pawar, he said, 8220;I agree with him Pawar questioning the party being headed by Sonia Gandhi. The issue of Sonia becoming Prime Minister was an emotional one for all Indians and Pawar was right in pointing it out. I do not know what others in the party see in Sonia, to whom they all are clinging.8221;

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He felt both Ramakrishna Hegde and George Fernandes, who had been supporting the BJP at the Centre, were not comfortable with the company they kept as he knew both of them closely. 8220;There will not be a Third Front any more. The BJP8211;led alliance had broken down half-way through. I feel there will be no issues to be thrashed out during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,8221; he added.

He reiterated that his Government had approached the Chief Election Commissioner to conduct both the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections separately.