BANGALORE: The Janata Dal (S) President and former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, said on Thursday that his party is not for setting deadlines to the Congress to reconstitute boards and corporations.

Addressing presspersons here, he said: "If we wanted to do so, why should we have waited for a year? The Janata Dal (S) aligned with the Congress to form the Government not because it is power hungry. It did so to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party out. Can the Janata Dal (S) withdraw from the coalition merely because the boards and corporations are not being reconstituted?"

Mr. Deve Gowda said he is hopeful that the Congress will abide by the agreement arrived at between the two parties at the time of forming the Government. The Janata Dal (S) does feel concerned over the delay in the reconstitution of boards and corporation since it has affected the morale of the party legislators and others who aspire for positions. "However I do not want to precipitate the matter," he added.

He said all that the Janata Dal (S) can do is impress upon the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, the need for reconstituting the boards and corporations and providing an equal share of posts to the Janata Dal (S). It is up to the Chief Minister to decide. In the case of a Congress Chief Minister, he has to refer the matter to the party High Command. Therefore, the Janata Dal (S) does not believe in compelling Mr. Dharam Singh to take a quick decision in the matter.

Mr. Deve Gowda said it is improper on the part of his son and Working President, H.D. Kumaraswamy, to set a three-day deadline to the Chief Minister to direct chairmen of boards and corporations appointed by the previous government to resign. "There is nothing wrong in Mr. Kumaraswamy voicing the concern of the Janata Dal (S) legislators and activists, but setting a deadline is not correct. Giving a three-day deadline is impractical," he added.

He said he has no information whether the Congress proposes to remove Mr. Dharam Singh. If it wants to do so, the Janata Dal (S) should be informed.

Asked whether "internal squabbles" in the Congress have affected the Government's functioning, he said it is for the High Command to take note of the matter. However, there is bound to be some friction between partners in a coalition government and it is for the leaders of the constituent parties to take steps to resolve differences.

Mr. Deve Gowda said the "Daridra Narayana" campaign of the Janata Dal (S) will be extended to other major cities and towns in the State to seek better living conditions for slum dwellers. The campaign was not launched with an eye on the Chamarajpet byelection, he said. "The struggle for the cause of the poor and against land grabbing will continue," he added. He said the Janata Dal (S) is committed to the smooth running of the coalition Government and will not withdraw from the coalition. The byelection results will have no impact on the Government.

Mr. Deve Gowda, after campaigning for his party in the bypolls, met Mr. Dharam Singh here on Tuesday night.

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