Janata Dal (S) supremo Deve Gowda here on Sunday said the power transfer in the State will depend on the outcome of a meeting to be held with BJP leaders in Delhi. It will be held before October 3, he added.
Speaking to media persons here, Mr Gowda, who was here to participate in a district-level JD (S) convention, said: “There are some issues to be sorted out before handing over power. I will personally go to Delhi and meet BJP leaders, including Atal Behari Vajpayee, Rajnath Singh and L K Advani, to discuss some ‘shortcomings’ in the working of the present coalition government in the State. If the meeting proves fruitful, there will be no problem in handing over power,” he added.
When asked to explain those shortcomings, he only said the JD (S) was neglected in appointments to various committees and bodies. Besides, it was necessary to discuss whether the BJP had kept its promises made during formation of the coalition government. Reacting to a query, Mr Gowda reiterated that the final authority of handing over power rests with the party high command, and not Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
Loyal worker
Taking a dig at his opponents who term the appointment of Merajuddin Patel as the JD (S) state president a political gimmick to woo minorities, he said: “He is a loyal worker. He stood with the party even in the most difficult times of his life.”
Mr Gowda said Mr Patel never aspired for any power. He was a committed party worker and had concern for implementing the party programmes.
He also defended appointment of Kuruba leader Arvind Dalwai as Youth JD (S) state president. “The JD (S) is not promoting Mr Dalwai as a parallel leader to someone (Siddaramaiah?). I have seen Mr Dalwai for years. He has been fighting for social cause since his college days,” he said, adding the party believed he (Mr Dalwai) along with Merajuddin Patel would tour entire state to strengthen the party.
Merajuddin Patel, Primary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti, party spokesman Y S V Datta, JD (S) youth president Arvind Dalwai, Dodda Ganesh and others were present.
