The Hindu : Front Page : I will consult my group, says M.P. Prakash

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Sunday, Oct 28, 2007
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I will consult my group, says M.P. Prakash

S. Rajendran

“Support not based on JD(S) Legislature Party resolution; I was kept in the dark”

M.P. Prakash

BANGALORE: The former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, M.P. Prakash, taken by surprise at his party’s decision to go with the Bharatiya Janata Party again, said he would consult the “group of legislators with him” before embarking on the next course of action.

On his return from New Delhi late on Saturday night, Mr. Prakash told The Hindu here that he had taken the initiative to talk to the Congress leadership on the authorisation given by Janata Dal (Secular) legislators. All details of his discussions with the Congress leaders were brought to the notice of the JD(S) Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy. “Neither I nor the legislators who came with me to New Delhi indulged in any kind of anti-party activity.”

But the party kept them in the dark, Mr. Prakash said. “If they wanted to extend support to the BJP, they should have transferred power on October 3 as originally scheduled. Why all this confusion?”

On Mr. Kumaraswamy extending “unilateral” support to the BJP, he said it did not have the backing of the JD (S) Legislature Party. At best, it was based on a discussion with a group of legislators, and not a legislature party resolution.

Later, the former Chief Minister drove down to the residence of Mr. Prakash and sought his cooperation. Only on Friday did Mr. Kumaraswamy meet Mr. Prakash and assure him of the party’s support in his efforts at forming a government with the Congress.

In another development, Mahima Patel, who had walked out of the JD(S) and even threatened to float a new party, returned to the mainstream of the JD(S) after it decided to extend support to the BJP.

Mr. Patel earlier said he preferred to quit as the JD(S) had gone back on its promise that it would transfer power to the BJP.

‘Governor must reject letter’

New Delhi Special Correspondent reports:

Earlier in New Delhi, Mr. Prakash, expressing shock and dismay at the high command’s decision, asked the Governor to reject the letter of support submitted by Mr. Kumaraswamy.

Mr. Prakash told reporters that if the JD(S) had to submit such a letter there should have been a resolution to that effect adopted at a meeting of the legislature party. No such meeting took place.

“The legislature party meetings cannot be held just like that. There is a procedure laid down … The MLAs must be given notice for such a meeting. It has not happened. We have not been informed. It is illegal,” he said. “It clearly showed that for the high command, political strategy is not for principles, but limited to grabbing power.”

October 5 meeting

Mr. Prakash alleged that at the legislature party meeting held at the residence of former Minister, N. Cheluvarayaswamy in Bangalore on October 5, the legislators were asked to sign on a blank paper. Perhaps that was used to prepare the letter submitted to the Governor extending support to a BJP-headed government.

At the meeting it was also decided that Mr. Kumaraswamy should continue as Chief Minister for three months and allow BJP leader Yediyurappa to head the government for the remaining 17 months of the Assembly, Mr. Prakash said.

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