The Hindu : Front Page : Ministry expansion may trigger a crisis in Janata Dal (Secular)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Ministry expansion may trigger a crisis in Janata Dal (Secular)

S. Rajendran

Prakash and Sindhia likely to spell out their stance after Kumaraswamy is sworn in

Bangalore: The ministry expansion proposed to be undertaken by Chief Minister-designate H.D. Kumaraswamy within a day after he is sworn in is expected to trigger a crisis.

The former Deputy Chief Minister, M.P. Prakash, and the former Finance and Industries Minister, P.G.R. Sindhia, who do not enjoy the backing of party legislators, are expected to spell out their stand on their next course of action soon after the swearing-in.

Allegiance

Mr. Kumaraswamy has been calling the shots during the past fortnight and all legislators have expressed their allegiance to him. They have even distanced themselves from the party leader and former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, who has expressed his reservations over the party allying with BJP.

Mr. Kumaraswamy, who had a long discussion with Mr. Deve Gowda on Monday, told The Hindu that the swearing-in ceremony on Friday will be limited to himself and BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa taking charge as Deputy Chief Minister.

The ministry will be expanded after that by including eight Ministers from Janata Dal(Secular) and 17 from the BJP.

Prior to this, the party will finalise the appointments of chairmen of boards and corporations, in an apparent effort to please those legislators kept out of the Ministry.

The party is also contemplating appointment of parliamentary secretaries who will enjoy the status of Ministers of State.

Hardcore Janata Dal (Secular) workers said the run-up to the swearing-in ceremony is likely to witness hiccups since there is also the likelihood of some legislators being expelled from the party.

It is another matter that expulsions will not have any bearing on the formation of the new Government since Speaker Krishna has granted recognition to Mr. Kumaraswamy as leader of Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party.

Those legislators who accept Mr. Kumaraswamy as their leader are likely to enjoy a special status. Party sources told the The Hindu here on Monday that all is not well in the party and that the unity of party legislators and their allegiance to Mr. Kumaraswamy depend on the positions they will be offered.

50 competitors

Janata Dal (Secular) can at best accommodate 16 Ministers, including the Chief Minister. There are nearly 50 competitors for the post and many are demanding a Cabinet berth.

Meanwhile, those who have stuck to their stand that the party should continue with its secular ideology and refrain from associating with the BJP have started coming together. Their demand is that President of Janata Dal(Secular) State unit N. Thippanna and working President Mr. Kumaraswamy be expelled on charges of anti-party activities.

They also demand expulsion of legislators who have associated themselves with what they term the "Kumaraswamy movement," which resulted in the collapse of the coalition government headed by Dharam Singh.

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