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J H Patel, a great orator and witty leader

An astute politician, acclaimed parliamentarian and staunch socialist, Jayadevappa Halappa Patel, who died in Bangalore on Tuesday morning, had a chequered political career spanning four decades that was studded with bouquets and brickbats.

A nonchalant leader, Patel endeared himself to his political adversaries by his affectionate and friendly attitude.

A witty Patel was in the eye of storm for revelations on his personal lifestyle. His public announcements when he was the Karnataka chief minister that he adored lord Krishna, loved wine and women, kicked off a heated debate.

A deft handler of any situation, Patel had the capability to withstand criticism and was endowed with abundant patience to dismiss them cheerfully.

The socialist leader and an ardent follower Ram Manohar Lohia, Patel's oratory skills left his mark on many.

Born in Kariganur, now in Davanagere district, on October 11, 1930 in a landlord family, Patel affectionately called Jayanna, was a lawyer before his initiation into politics by the socialist party.

Patel was jailed during the freedom struggle and also during the Emergency.

Patel entered the Lok Sabha in 1967 and created history by speaking in Kannada in Parliament.

Patel travelled extensively visiting Europe, Russia, China, Japan and other countries.

He remained a non-Congress leader throughout his life and was the president of the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal.

Patel, who served as a minister in the Ramakrishna Hegde and S R Bommai governments, became the deputy chief minister in 1994 when the Janata Dal returned to power under the chief ministership of H D Deve Gowda. He succeeded Gowda in 1996 following the latter's elevation to the post of prime minister.

Patel's political acumen came to fore when he had to face stiff dissidence from partymen during 1998.

When party affairs took a turn for the worse, Patel stunned every one including his detractors by recommending dissolution of the state assembly, six months ahead of the assembly polls in 1999.

Patel witnessed a turbulent political days following the split in the Janata Dal, the JD (united) in which he remained and the JD (secular), led by Deve Gowda.

Patel was a vociferous critic of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party throughout his political career. However, he was forced to sacrifice his political ideology to some extent when he consented to a poll alliance between the JD-U and the BJP in Karnataka in last year's assembly polls.

Patel who was not keeping good health during the 1999 assembly polls, devoted much time and attention towards regaining his health.

Even during those days, Patel tried to unite the Janata Dal splinter groups.

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