Rebel MLAs, Gowda heading for show-down

Dissident Janata Dal-Secular legislators unhappy over the functioning of party chief and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda will hold a parallel meeting in Bangalore on Wednesday under the leadership of senior leader M P Prakash.

The meeting will be held a day before the party's state level meeting, apparently to discuss the options they have.

More than two dozen legislators are expected to attend the meeting, said sources close to Prakash, a leader from prominent Lingayat community and a former Minister.

Prakash has been critical of the party leadership which, in a sudden U-turn, decided to support a BJP-led government and then after a few days decided to vote against it on the floor of the assembly.
 
The JD-S has convened a meeting of prominent party leaders on Thursday to discuss the political situation.

Prakash's supporters have accused Deve Gowda of running the party in a dictatorial manner. Prakash had said in Hubli on Monday: "I do not want to be in a party where there is no internal democracy."

However, he told media persons in Bangalore on Tuesday that he still believed in the leadership of Deve Gowda.

"I will not do anything that will result in the break up of the party," said Prakash.

Discontent is brewing in the party after JD-S snapped ties with BJP.

Prakash said those participating in Wednesday's meet, also to be attended by 'like-minded' leaders, would stay away from the one convened by Deve Gowda.