Hassan: The crucial Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party meeting, held at a resort on the outskirts of Hassan on Saturday evening, skipped any discussion on the alleged threats to the government brought on by Operation Lotus II by the BJP. After the marathon meeting of nearly three hours, Cooperation Minister Bandeppa Kashampur told reporters that the meeting discussed at length ways to strengthen the party for the 2019 parliamentary polls.
Like the JD(S), its coalition partner Congress too is holding its legislature party meeting on Tuesday. On the coordination between the two parties for the Legislative Council polls, he said that the Congress has assured the JD(S) of all support and that no Congressman would support BJP candidates during the forthcoming Council by-polls. Of the 37 party MLAs, 35 attended the meeting, while Narayan Gowda (K.R. Pet) and Gowrishankar (Tumakuru Rural) did not. Both had taken prior permission from the party top leadership, he said. Mr Gowda was busy with a family function, while Mr Gowrishankar left for Singapore to get his ailing father Chennigappa treated.
The JDLP meeting was held at Hassan to send a strong message that all party MLAs are united and that there are no fissures in the party ranks. The meeting also did not discuss demands from party MLAs for ministerial berths, Mr Kashampur said. Party supremo Deve Gowda said that the party should fill posts in boards and corporations soon. Mr Kashampur said that there was no discussion on attempts by the BJP to lure Sakleshpur MLA H.K. Kumaraswamy. “None of us, including the chief minister, is not worried,” he said. BSP MLA and Primary and Secondary Education Minister N. Mahesh too attended the meeting.
