The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : AIPJD leaders approve merger with Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 17, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

AIPJD leaders approve merger with Congress

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The All-India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) will formally merge with the Congress in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a convention at Palace Grounds here on September 3.

A meeting of the AIPJD leaders presided over by president C.M. Ibrahim on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution on merging the party with the Congress. AIPJD secretary-general M. Raghupathy, the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and presidents of district units of the party were present.

The resolution moved by Mr. Raghupathy was passed by voice vote. Except Mr. Ibrahim and the rebel JD (S) MLAs, all other leaders of the AIPJD will join the Congress on September 3.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said Mr. Ibrahim would join the Congress later.

The former Prime Minister V.P. Singh and the former Union Minister Ajit Singh had told Mr. Ibrahim to continue in the post till the elections to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly were held.

He said the AIPJD would cease to exist after September 3 and its leaders P. Kodandaramaiah, A.K. Subbaiah, Mr. Raghupathy and R. Krishnappa along with their supporters would join the Congress.

To mobilise people for the rally, he would tour 23 districts from Thursday.

Mr. Siddaramiah said the objective of the merger was to end JD (S)-BJP rule.

A number of JD (S) and BJP MLAs were dissatisfied with the functioning of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and the Government might fall any time, he said.

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