Sending a strong message to dissidents within the party, Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda on Saturday warned that he would not keep the leaders who do not engage themselves in the party organisational work, especially the membership drive.
“I will become tough from now onwards,” the former Prime Minister said while addressing a party workers’ convention at the Bangalore Palace Grounds, where a membership drive was launched.
“My patience is running out. Let us build the party with whoever comes with us instead of bothering about a couple of absentees,” he said, and asked his son and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to desist from appeasing those who were not keen on remaining in the party.
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Taking a dig at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he said, “Let us see what Governor Vajubhai R. Vala will say with respect to the Arkavathi Layout land denotification issue. He will then be exposed.”
Both Mr. Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy sought to instil confidence among the party workers by asking them not to get demoralised over the issue of the party not getting space for its office in Bengaluru.