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Karnataka BJP threatens to break off with Lok Shakti

Relations between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Lok Shakti in Karnataka have come under severe strain with the former threatening to call off their alliance if the latter continues to associate with the "rejected and dejected" faction of the Janata Dal led by Chief Minister J H Patel.

But the Lok Shakti led by Union Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde stuck to its decision of reuniting with the Janata Dal and the Samata Party.

In a scathing attack on the Patel government, a meeting of state BJP office-bearers said that if circumstances so warranted, the party would not hesitate to go it alone in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

A resolution adopted at the meeting said the Janata Dal's move to join the National Democratic Alliance was aimed at its own survival and would serve no meaningful purpose "since the people of the state want a change of government".

BJP general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters that though his party wants to continue the 'time-tested' alliance with the Lok Shakti, he would apprise the central leadership of the ground realities and the strong feelings expressed by the state unit against associating with the Janata Dal.

In a separate press conference, state Lok Shakti chief Jeevaraj Alva soft-pedalled the BJP's opposition to the Janata Dal, saying it was but natural for misgivings to arise.

He said leaders of the two parties would sort out the differences.

The inclusion of the Janata Dal in the NDA was intended to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, he added.

Dr Alva also allayed fears that the move was aimed at checkmating the BJP within the NDA.

He said his party is ready to make "any sacrifice" to sustain its alliance with the BJP.

In Madras, Hegde told reporters that the merger of his party and the Samata Party with the Dal was only to strengthen the BJP-led NDA and not to create a pressure group within the alliance.

Meanwhile, the state executive of the Janata Dal (Deve Gowda faction), which met in Bangalore today, demanded the imposition of President's rule in the state.

In a related development, two ministers deserted the Patel camp and joined Deve Gowda by resigning from the government. Yesterday, Patel had sacked eight ministers loyal to Deve Gowda prior to recommending dissolution of the legislative assembly.

UNI

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