The Hindu : Srinivas Prasad joins Janata Dal (S)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 07, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Srinivas Prasad joins Janata Dal (S)

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MARCH 6. The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, V. Srinivas Prasad, has resigned from the National Democratic Alliance Government and joined the Janata Dal (Secular) headed by the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda.

Along with him, the former Minister and senior Congress leader, Perikal Mallappa, joined the party along with a number of followers here today.

Mr. Prasad, who for a long time was with the Congress, said he had conveyed to the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that he had decided to quit the Government to join the Janata Dal (S). He had faxed his resignation letter on Friday night after holding a final round of discussions with Mr. Deve Gowda, the State unit president, Siddaramaiah and the Secretary General, P.G.R. Sindhia.

At a press conference at the Janata Dal (S) headquarters, Mr. Prasad ruled out contesting the coming elections to the Lok Sabha and said he would devote his time to ousting the Congress Government in the State, which he described as "corrupt." "I will work to the best of my ability to enable the Janata Dal (S) to form the next Government," he said.

That Mr. Srinivas Prasad would quit the Samata Party was known for several months but his decision not to contest the elections has come as a surprise. It was said that he would be joining the Janata Dal (S) since the Samata Party has hardly any presence in Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts and would contest from Chamarajanagar.

However, the Janata Dal (S) leaders were confident that they would be able to convince him to contest.

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