The Hindu : AIPJD to tie up with Janata Party for polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 03, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

AIPJD to tie up with Janata Party for polls

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, FEB. 2. The All India Progressive Janata Dal and the Janata Party in the State have decided to enter into an alliance for the coming Parliamentary and Assembly elections.

Leaders of the two parties are going to announce the alliance in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the AIPJD is keeping its options open with regard to alliances with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, leaders of what might be called the Third Front and even the Congress.

Speaking to The Hindu, the State AIPJD President, K.N. Nage Gowda, said that a delegation of party leaders would leave for New Delhi on Tuesday. The Janata Party member of the Rajya Sabha from the State, Vijay Mallya, would be joining them. Mr. Mallya and he would announce the decision on alliance in Delhi.

Mr. Nage Gowda said that he would meet the BJP President, Venkaiah Naidu, and hold discussions on an alliance for the coming elections.

They would also meet the former Prime Ministers, V.P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, Laloo Yadav, about forging an alliance with the Third Front parties.

Recently the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, met the AIPJD leaders to persuade them to join the National Democratic Alliance. It was countered by Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav who followed Mr. Fernandes' meeting with them to dissuade them against joining the ruling front at the Centre.

Asked whether they would hold talks with the Congress leaders, Mr. Nage Gowda said that they had not envisaged an alliance with it "for the time being." The AIPJD would ally with any front or party that would accept its "minimum programme."

The AIPJD delegation will consist of its leader in the Assembly, B. Somashekar, H.N. Nanje Gowda, Basavaraj Bommai, Ramesh Kumar, A.B. Patil and Umesh Katti.

It is significant that some of them were so far stated to be toying with the idea of joining the Congress. The President of the party, S.R. Bommai, and M. Raghupathy are in Delhi.

Mr. Nage Gowda, however, ruled out any alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular). It had become impossible for them to join hands with that party.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka