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Deve Gowda denies recognising legislature party leader

Special Correspondent

Says it is Assembly Speaker who granted recognition to Kumaraswamy

Bangalore: Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda has categorically denied having recognised his son, H.D. Kumaraswamy, as leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party.

The appointment of M.P. Prakash as president of the State unit of the party is similar to what the Congress has done in the two Houses of Parliament, he told presspersons here on Wednesday.

Mr. Gowda said he has not approved of the alliance entered into by his son with the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, he said Mr. Kumaraswamy and the MLAs supporting him aligned with the BJP as the Congress was attempting to split the Janata Dal (Secular). Mr. Gowda reiterated that his party is committed to secularism.

The former Prime Minister was reacting to statements attributed to him that he had recognised Mr. Kumaraswamy as the leader of the legislature party. "Who am I to grant recognition to Mr. Kumaraswamy as the leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party. It is for the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to grant such recognition," he said.

He alleged that a powerful disinformation campaign has been launched that he had entered into a secret deal with the BJP to make his son Chief Minister.

Unfortunate

Referring to the statement of M.P. Veerendra Kumar, Kerala JD(S) president, seeking his resignation as national president and expulsion from the party, Mr. Gowda said it is unfortunate that he [Mr. Kumar] was carried away by reports in a section of the press, which had misquoted him. "Mr. Veerendra Kumar, my senior party colleague, might have been misled by the media."

Mr. Gowda said the people's mandate in the 2004 Assembly elections was not in favour of any party. Yet the JD(S) joined hands with the Congress owing to certain factors. However, when the Congress did not keep its promises and attempted to split his party, the legislators led by Mr. Kumaraswamy had no choice but to associate themselves with the BJP, Mr. Gowda said. "I have maintained a distance from the rebel JD(S) group and yet I am being targeted for the last two months. No one can understand the mental torture that I am undergoing," he said.

Special Correspondent reports from New Delhi:

The Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday denied reports that the party had recognised the rebel group of MLAs led by Mr. Kumaraswamy and said that the status of the group was still that of "suspended" MLAs. Party Secretary-General and spokesperson, Kunwar Danish Ali said the party has not withdrawn the order of suspension against the rebel MLAs. "The Disciplinary Action Committee of the party is also looking at the issue of further action of expulsion as per last month's decision of the National Executive." Asked about Mr. Kumar's statement seeking Mr. Gowda's resignation, he said it seemed to have been based on some misinformation.

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