The Hindu : Karnataka News : JD(S) holds strategy session today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 21, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

JD(S) holds strategy session today

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MARCH 20. The State-level office-bearers of the Janata Dal (Secular) will be meeting here on Monday under the watchful eyes of the party president and former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, to assess the party's performance in gram panchayat polls and work out strategy for the upcoming elections to cooperative societies and zilla and taluk panchayats.

The likely consequences and impact of the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa's decision to helm the Samajwadi Party's debut in the State will figure on the agenda, and the strategy to counter this new development and protect its own turf as the alternative to the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be discussed, the party sources said.

Mr. Bangarappa's moves, quitting the BJP to become State president of the Samajwadi Party, which has no presence in the State, can be a cause for concern, sources concede given Mr. Bangarappa's track record in party-building.

A senior minister of the party said while Mr. Bangarappa may upset the BJP applecart to a small extent, it will be prudent for the Janata Dal (S) to prepare for the possibility of his weaning some members away.

The Janata Dal (S) is buoyant and ready to face other upcoming elections by strengthening and organising it at all levels, the sources said.

Monday will see an audit of the membership drive that has been quietly going on at the district and taluk levels across the State, along with the fund-raising initiative that Mr. Deve Gowda launched a few months ago, offering coupons signed by him as incentive for workers who contributed money to the party. Meanwhile, Janata Dal (Secular) ministers are meeting tonight over dinner at Mr. Deve Gowda's home.

The attendance of the former Union Minister, C.M. Ibrahim, who has been disenchanted with Mr. Deve Gowda at the dinner, has raised eyebrows.

Mr. Deve Gowda and Mr. Ibrahim, who have kept away from each other for months since the coalition Government was formed, are likely to make peace.

Sources said it is part of the strategy to counter the Bangarappa angle, which has thrown a new spanner in the works for the Congress, the Janata Dal (S) and the BJP, and could drastically change the equations.

The Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah; the Revenue Minister, M.P. Prakash; the party State unit president, N. Thippanna; the working president, H.D. Kumaraswamy; the Public Works Minister, H.D. Revanna; and the Education Minister, D. Manjunath are attending the dinner. The party leaders are stated to discuss on Monday the unabated tirade against Mr. Deve Gowda by four of the party leaders who have been suspended — A. Lakshminsagar, Vaijanath Patil, P. Kodandaramaiah and A.K. Subbaiah.

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