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JD merger talks will begin in a fortnight, says Bommai

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore April 17. The President of the All-India Janata Dal (AIJD), S.R. Bommai, has said the discussions on the party's merger with the JD(S) led by the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, will begin in a fortnight, and expressed confidence that the merger will be completed shortly.

He was presiding over a function to install C. Byre Gowda as the President of the AIJD State unit. A large gathering of party activists, including the district unit presidents and office-bearers, attended the function. The floor leader of the party in the Legislative Assembly, P.G.R. Sindhia, who has gradually distanced himself from the AIJD, was absent. Mr. Sindhia also stayed away from Wednesday's meeting of legislators who have joined the AIJD.

Mr. Bommai said the Election Commission, which was yet to approve the registration of the party and give it a symbol, had called for a hearing on the matter on April 21.

He said he was confident that the party would be registered, and the symbol it had sought given to it. "The main focus now is on galvanising the party, and I am ready to undertake a Statewide tour in the company of Mr. Byre Gowda and other senior leaders. The party workers and the people at large need not have any anxiety over the state of my health. I am hale and hearty," he added.

The AIJD President hit out against the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, on the latter's reported remarks against the Janata Dal at recent public meetings, particularly the one held at Bagepalli on Wednesday. He said: "I had always appreciated Mr. Krishna for his decorum and finesse, but such intemperate language will erode my belief. He should refrain from using such language against the Janata Dal, leave alone appreciating the party for its good government between 1994 and 1999."

Mr. Byre Gowda, who spoke earlier, also criticised the Chief Minister, and said the people were aware of the performance of the JD Government, and were comparing it with that of the Congress Government. With the merger process having been set in motion, the Congress was considerably rattled, and was speaking against the JD. Most projects being completed now were initiated by the previous government, and Mr. Krishna was now claiming credit for them, he added.

He said that while the JD Government had added 800 MW of power to the State grid, the Congress Government had hardly added about 200 MW. While electricity was supplied to rural areas for 14 hours a day five years ago, it was now restricted to around two hours. Only corruption had increased, he alleged.

Referring to his ambition to strengthen the AIJD, Mr. Byre Gowda said his strength lay in the party workers. If the workers and the district and urban unit leaders worked well, the President and the party would emerge stronger. "I will do all that I can to improve the party, and I am confident of serving the hopes and aspirations of the people and the party workers. I am grateful to Ramakrishna Hegde and Mr. Bommai for assigning to me the presidentship of the party," he added.

The former Education Minister, B. Somashekar, said the State Government had bungled in the education sector, and instead of strengthening the Common Entrance Test for admissions to professional colleges, it was allegedly using the Supreme Court order to serve the interests of private professional colleges. During the Janata Dal regime, meritorious students obtained admissions to professional colleges without any money power or influence, he added.

The Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee of the AIJD, M.P. Prakash, said the AIJD had to appropriately respond to the demands of voters and party workers.

The former minister, B.N. Bachche Gowda, who was a competitor to Mr. Byre Gowda for the post of President, said he would cooperate with Mr. Gowda. Referring to the absence of Mr. Sindhia, he said Mr. Sindhia was very much a part of the Janata Parivar.

Among others who spoke were H.N. Nanje Gowda, K.B. Shanappa, B.A. Mohideen, V.S. Krishna Iyer, and Basavaraj Horatti.

The Independent MLA from Gauribidanur, Shivashankar Reddy, joined the AIJD today.

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