PARTY MATTERS: President of Janata Dal (S) H.D. Deve Gowda addressing a press meet at his party office in Bangalore on Sunday. Home Minister M.P. Prakash is seen. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda has finally broken his silence over the controversy generated by Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari's statement that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy should continue in office rather than hand over power to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Sunday, the former Prime Minister said there should be no problem in handing over power to the BJP provided the latter adheres to the agenda of the Karnataka Development Front (KDF), improves coordination with the Janata Dal (S), and rectifies certain lapses in administration.

Mr. Gowda said the Janata Dal (S) should "keep its word" on handing over the Chief Minister's post to the BJP.

He welcomed Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's statement that he would support the demand for internal reservation among the Backward Classes.

Mr. Gowda said not much importance should be attached to Mr. Ansari's statement.

He released a letter from Mr. Ansari stating that after the Ullal bypolls he had not made any remarks that would be disrespectful to BJP leaders and would abide by his party's decision on the issue.

Mr. Gowda refuted statements by the Congress that the Janata Dal (S) had lost its base in the State after its alliance with the BJP. The Janata Dal (S) had won more seats than other political parties in the recent byelections to village panchayats.

While the Janata Dal (S) won 138 out of 337 panchayat seats, the Congress and the BJP won 116 and 34 seats, respectively.

This proved that the party's rural vote base was intact, he added.

He shot back at his Congress detractors who said that the Janata Dal (S) defeat in the Ullal bypoll was an indication that the party's base was eroding.

He declared that the real battle would commence in Karnataka and announced a State tour after June 18 during which he would spend a day in each of the districts to strengthen the party organisation.

He said he had convened a meeting of party legislators, Ministers and the Chief Minister in Bangalore June 13 to discuss strategies to strengthen the party.

The controversy over Congress president Sonia Gandhi's remarks on the Mahadayi's diversion must end, he said. Ms. Gandhi may have made the statement to improve her party's poll prospects in Goa, he added.

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