Bangalore: Janata Dal (Secular) leaders went into a conclave on Wednesday to consider, among others, ways of countering the bribery charge against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and two of his Cabinet colleagues belonging to the party.

The meeting was chaired by party president H.D. Deve Gowda. This would be followed up with another meeting on Thursday.

Briefing presspersons, Mr. Deve Gowda said the exercise undertaken by the party was not related to the possibility of early elections to the Legislative Assembly.

"After the formation of the coalition Government, I was away from all political parties for nearly four months. Owing to the pressure exerted by party workers, I am now back to strengthen the party."

The bribery allegations against the Chief Minister and other related matters were largely aimed at decimating the Janata Dal (S) more than bringing down the coalition Government. His proposed Statewide tour was also aimed at preventing any damage to the party arising out of the bribery allegations and other related matters.The former Prime Minister said his tour would commence on September 1 and would cover all taluks and the districts. He was now in the process of launching a "do or die battle." It would be the last battle of his political career and he would show to his political detractors who he was. About the challenge posed to his leadership by JD (S) parliamentary party leader M.P. Veerendra Kumar and Surendra Mohan, the former Prime Minister said the strength of the latter in the party was well known.

On the likelihood of senior Congress leader C.K. Jaffer Sharief joining the JD (S) following his recent statement on the secular philosophy of Mr. Deve Gowda, the former Prime Minister said he had friends and enemies in all political parties.

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