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Political crisis continues in Karnataka

The crisis in the Janata Dal ministry in Karnataka continued for the fourth day today, amid indications that the five-member panel constituted to resolve the tangle would meet in Bangalore tomorrow.

Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who met over breakfast at his home, today authorised him to take a decision on their behalf. Siddaramaiah will meet his supporters again on Friday, June 19, to apprise them of the decisions taken at the panel meeting.

Siddaramaiah called on senior Janata Dal leader S R Bommai at his home after the breakfast meeting and was with him for nearly an hour. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, who was away in Hassan, was likely to reach the state capital late tonight.

The five-member panel comprises Deve Gowda, Bommai, Chief Minister J H Patel, state party chief B L Shankar and Siddaramaiah.

When newsmen asked Siddaramaiah about the outcome of the meeting, he declined to say anything, and parried a question whether he would seek a change of leadership.

UNI

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