THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The anti-Gowda faction of the Janata Dal (Secular) on Saturday elected veteran socialist leader Surendra Mohan as its president in place of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda.

The party also decided to stake claim to the party name, flag and election symbol.

The JD(S) national council, convened by the anti-Gowda faction, also elected former Karnataka Minister P.G.R. Scindia as the party's secretary general and named senior Karnataka JD(S) leader Ekanthaiah the president of the party's Karnataka unit. The national executive of the party has been reconstituted and Mr. Surendra Mohan has been authorised to appoint new office-bearers in consultation with other leaders. Former Union Minister of State for Finance M.P. Veerendrakumar would continue to be the JD(S) Parliamentary Party leader.

Mr. Surendra Mohan, Mr. Scindia and Mr. Veerendrakumar told a news conference here on the conclusion of the national council meeting here on Saturday that the immediate task before the party was to rally the secular and democratic forces in the country and to work for the unity of the Janata Parivar, which is currently split into various political groups and camps.

`Ours is the real JD(S)'

Replying to a question, they said the fact that theirs was the real Janata Dal (Secular) would become clear once the national executive convened by Mr. Gowda was held next month.

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