The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Kumaraswamy disarms `rebel' leaders in coalition Ministry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 03, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kumaraswamy disarms `rebel' leaders in coalition Ministry

S. Rajendran

Zameer Ahmed Khan's resignation accepted with remarkable speed

WILL THE GAMBIT PAY? Minister for Haj and Wakfs Zameer Ahmed Khan speaking to the media, after submitting his resignation from the JD(S)-BJP coalition Ministry to Governor T.N. Chaturvedi at Raj Bhavan in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: K. Mur ali Kumar

BANGALORE: The Janata Dal (Secular) is again facing a crisis of sorts with one splinter group working for freezing the party's symbol and another working at forging a dissident group to show Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in bad light.

The resignation of Minister for Wakfs Zameer Ahmed Khan from the 11-month-old coalition ministry has been dismissed by the party leadership as of no consequence although he might try to mar the secular credentials of the arty. Mr. Khan crossed over the Janata Dal (S) from the Congress sometime ago.

It is said that the exit of Mr. Khan reflected the pressure building within the part in the past few months. While Mr. Khan has given specific reasons for quitting the ministry, it is known that he had fallen out with the Chief Minister several months ago.

The party leadership has been reportedly suspecting that the Minister was taking the lead in building pressure on the Chief Minister and consequently against the former Prime Minister and party president H.D. Deve Gowda.

Mr. Kumaraswamy nipped in the bud any dissident activity in the party by accepting the resignation of Mr. Khan straightway.

While Mr. Khan called on Governor T.N. Chaturvedi and submitted his resignation letter, the Chief Minister's Secretariat, which received a copy of the letter from the minister, immediately sent it across to the Governor with the recommendation of the Chief Minister.

The Minister had categorically stated that there was no question of him calling on the Chief Minister and the latter said there was no room for negotiation.

It remains to be seen whether the exit of Mr. Khan from the "coterie" of the Chief Minister would result in a new problem within the party.

On his part, Mr. Khan has played smart and turned the tables against the party leadership by resigning from the ministry rather than waiting to be dropped from the ministry during the reshuffle. At least one other Minister who was initially with the "dissident group" has retraced his steps and fallen in line with the Chief Minister.

Sources in the party told The Hindu that the differences between the Chief Minister and his one-time close confidante started brewing soon after the expansion. At the swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Khan caused ripples by taking oath in the name of Mr. Kumaraswamy and by touching his feet to express his gratitude.

While Mr. Khan hoped to get a weighty portfolio, particularly Bangalore City Development, the Chief Minister gave him the portfolio of Wakfs.

Meanwhile, preparations are on to hold a party conclave at a resort in Pune in Maharashtra on Saturday. The invitees to the programme were the legislators and party Ministers. The programme would be chaired by Chief Minister apart from Home Minister M.P. Prakash who is the party State unit president. Mr. Deve Gowda, who is now in New Delhi, has not made it clear whether he would attend the programme.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section