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One more Karnataka minister quits

A Special Correspondent in Bangalore

The factional fight in the Karnataka Janata Dal went a step further towards a split today with one more minister resigning from the J H Patel government and former Union minister C M Ibrahim serving notice on the state party leadership.

The minister, M Varde Gowda, has charged Chief Minister Patel with indulging in "petty politics" by shifting him from the sericulture portfolio to employment and training in the February 27 reshuffle and not promoting him to Cabinet rank.

Varde Gowda, a staunch supporter of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, went to the extent of blaming Union Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, leader of the Lok Shakti party, for the change in his portfolio.

Hegde holds Varde Gowda responsible for the attack on his house on the controversial silk import policy.

Varde Gowda becomes the second minister after D T Jayakumar, minister of state for horticulture, to resign after last week's reshuffle, bringing the strength of the Patel ministry from a record 51 to 49.

Indications are that this will not be the end of it. Some more resignations from ministers who are known to support Deve Gowda are expected in the next few days.

But, the surprising notice came from Deve Gowda's Man Friday, Ibrahim. The former civil aviation minister hit out at the state party leadership for "ignoring the interests of the minorities". He warned that if the mistakes are not rectified, the party will not win more than 21 seats in the assembly election in November.

The interesting aspect of Ibrahim's notice was that he intends to wait until the end of April to decide on continuing in the Dal at a meeting of his supporters.

The timing of the meeting as well as the plan of the Deve Gowda supporters is an indication that the state government will not be brought down at least until April.

The Budget session of the state legislature is scheduled to begin on March 8. "The plan is to ensure that the Budget is passed. The political action will begin later," a Deve Gowda supporter said.

But at least one more minister is expected to resign before the assembly meets on Monday. Varde Gowda claimed that there were at least 10 ministers who are in the same frame of mind as he.

"They wanted me to wait until they all decided together. But I did not want to wait," he said.

He accused Patel of promoting only "corrupt" ministers to the Cabinet.

Regardless of Varde Gowda's reasons for resigning, it is now fairly clear that the stage is being set for a split in the party. As of now, the Deve Gowda faction appears to be taking the initiative. But the effort appears to be a slow one.

A number of factors are obviously being considered, including the national picture. Once the equations at the national level change, things are expected to start moving in Karnataka too.

For now, it appears that junior ministerial supporters of Deve Gowda will resign first, followed by his son, Housing Minister H D Revanna. "Don't be surprised if [Deputy Chief Minister and state Janata Dal president K] Siddaramaiah follows suit after the Budget. There are possibilities of his close associate, H C Mahadevappa, putting in his papers before the assembly session begins," said a minister.

"The entire story revolves around supporters of Patel and Deve Gowda breaking off relations," said a senior minister.

Clearly, anything can happen in Karnataka.

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