The Hindu : Bommai urged to head new party

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 12, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Bommai urged to head new party

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Dec. 11. The JD(S) leader and former Union Minister, S.R. Bommai, as expected, announced a formula to float a new party that would stay away from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and bring about the unification of all Janata Dal groups.

After a three-month exercise during which he consulted various Janata Parivar leaders, Mr. Bommai announced the formula here today at a function in the presence of leaders and workers of the JD(U), a section of the JD(S), and the JD(Neutral).

Mr. Bommai was appointed as an arbitrator to bring about the merger of the Janata Dal groups as suggested by Ramakrishna Hegde and accepted by H.D. Deve Gowda, among others.

Mr. Bommai said the unification of the three Janata Dal groups in the State could be achieved only with the floating of a new party called the All-India Janata Dal, which was likely to receive the approval of the Election Commission.

Further, the JD(U), which was part of the NDA, would have to pull out of the coalition and remain equidistant from the BJP and the Congress.

The All-India Janata Dal could serve as an alternative party, which the people had been longing for.

Mr. Bommai told The Hindu that he would hold discussions with all top leaders of the Janata Dal groups in the country in the next fortnight and seek their participation to build a formidable party.

"Apart from Mr. Deve Gowda and Mr. Hegde, I have been holding discussions with various leaders, including the State unit president of the JD(S), Siddaramaiah. We have not closed the door on anybody and all are welcome.

The new party will be marked by a new democratic ethos and collective leadership. I am confident that all sections of the Janata Parivar will join the new outfit," he said.

Soon after the announcement of the formula, the pro-merger sections in the JD parties met and passed a resolution urging Mr. Bommai to head the party at the national level.

Reacting to this, Mr. Bommai said he would consult the other leaders and accept the position.

The leaders also called upon Mr. Bommai to appoint the office-bearers for various State units, including Karnataka, apart from appointing a committee to prepare the constitution for the new party, finalise the symbol and flag, and register the party with the Election Commission.

Mr. Bommai is likely to name the office-bearers in 10 days.

Meanwhile, a section of the JD(S) leaders told The Hindu that they had no other choice but to reject the Bommai formula since they were not consulted before it was announced. They would explain their stand on Thursday after the State Executive Committee meeting.

The JD(S) leaders who attended the function where the formula was announced were the Floor Leader of the party in the Legislative Council, K.H.Srinivasa, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Basavaraj Bommai, and the former Ministers, H.N. Nanje Gowda and M.Varade Gowda.

It is said that many JD(S) leaders were closely watching the developments and might pledge their support to the new party soon.

Earlier, there were reports that the former Ministers, D. Manjunath and A. Lakshmisagar, would be joining the new party. Janata Dal leaders and activists from various parts of Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and New Delhi attended the programme.

Mr. Srinivasa, M.P. Prakash, A.B. Patil, M.C. Nanaiah, K.B. Shanappa, Basavaraj Horatti, Vijay Mallya, K.N. Nage Gowda, H.N. Nanje Gowda, and Ramesh Kumar, spoke on similar lines that the need of the hour was the unification of the Janata Dal groups, and appreciated the role being played by Mr. Bommai in this regard.

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