Gowda, son to smoke peace pipe with disgruntled MLAs

Bengaluru: Having failed to placate their party legislators with a Malaysia junket, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda have decided to hold a meeting with them on either November 5 or 6 to do some damage control, according to party sources.

But before the meeting is held Mr Gowda has reportedly decided to persuade some key leaders of the party to sort out the issues worrying them in one- to- one meetings with Mr Kumaraswamy.

Three groups of legislators are currently leading the rebellion in the party. While the group of MLCs headed by Mr Basavaraj Horatti is  upset that Mr Kumaraswamy ignored them during the coalition government in the state, another group of former legislators and party workers like Mr Suresh Babu is also a nursing similar grouse.

The third group of some sitting MLAs feels mistreated by Mr Gowda's elder son, H D Revanna, according to sources. But none of the disgruntled legislators reportedly have any axe to grind with Mr Gowda himself.

On Thursday evening, a group of MLCs met Mr Gowda in his home to vent their frustration at being neglected in party affairs, reveal party sources.  Some threatened to quit the party before the next elections, pointing out that they were elected either by teachers or graduates, who voted for them as individuals rather than the Janata Dal (Secular).

Mr Gowda is said to have tried to persuade them not to take any hasty decision, claiming the Bharatiya Janata Party was most likely to fall short of numbers after the byelections and the party stood a chance of playing a decisive role in the government once again. He also reportedly assured them that he would personally make sure that their issues were sorted out.