The Hindu : Karnataka News : Dharam Singh gets a reprieve

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 12, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Dharam Singh gets a reprieve

S. Rajendran

High Command decides not to change Chief Minister for the present

BANGALORE: The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, has come out unscathed despite the party's defeat in the two recent byelections in the State. Speculation about his continuance as Chief Minister has reportedly been put to rest by the Congress High Command, at least for the present, thanks to the rapport that he enjoys with the coalition partner, the Janata Dal (Secular).

Sources in the Congress told The Hindu here on Saturday that the coalition Government will have a smooth run under the leadership of Mr. Singh, and he will not be disturbed right now. The party High Command carried out a detailed analysis of the election results both in Karnataka and Kerala and decided against any change of leadership since it would not augur well for the party. The Congress is not ready for elections in the State if the JD(S) withdraws from the coalition in the event of the Chief Minister being changed.

That the former Prime Minister and JD(S) president, H.D. Deve Gowda, has a good understanding with Mr. Singh is well known. He has already said: "Our understanding with the Congress is based on the condition that Mr. Dharam Singh will be the Chief Minister. Should the Congress decide to bring about a change, then the JD(S) has to be consulted."

The Congress High Command, which is stated to be more upset with the re-entry of the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa into the Lok Sabha than the defeat of the Congress candidate, Ayanur Manjunath, in Shimoga, put Mr. Singh under the scanner over the past few days.

Mr. Deve Gowda was in New Delhi over the past two days, but his interactions with top Congress leaders are being kept confidential. It is said that the Congress refrained from disturbing Mr. Singh apparently after it got scent of the fact that Mr. Deve Gowda will not settle for any other Congress leader as the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister is also stated to have explained to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, the party's performance in the byelections. His argument was that the Congress scored over Mr. Bangarappa in four of the eight Assembly segments and the latter's victory was largely due to the good lead that he obtained in his home constituency of Sorab.

KPPC chief

However, there is likely to be a change in the presidentship of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, and the party again is looking for a person who will not rub Mr. Deve Gowda the wrong way, according to sources. After the appointment of the new president, the Congress and the JD(S) will finalise the members of a coordination committee to ensure a smooth relationship between them.

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