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Tuesday, June 1, 1999

JD weak in Karnataka, admits Patel

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE  
BANGALORE, MAY 31: Chief Minister J H Patel on Sunday admitted that the State Janata Dal had weakened, but said the party was sure to come back to power.

Patel listed his Government's achievements in the irrigation, power, education and health sectors and said it would be a one-party rule in the State in future and not a coalition government.

``It will be a distant dream for the Yediyurappas and Kharges to come back to power,'' Patel said at a meet-the-press programme.

Patel said differences among his party leaders had been sorted out and everyone had agreed to work unitedly. ``There are differences in every party. Look at the BJP in Gujarat and the situation in the Congress at the national level,'' he said, adding his party's image and his government's achievements could be seen in the villages rather than in Bangalore, where only ``political mischief'' took place frequently.

He said his relationship with former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had improved and added there was no chance of his joiningLok Shakti leader Ramakrishna Hegde, who had, ``unfortunately got into the BJP's bad company'' -- this, he said, would drive the country to destruction.

Patel also wanted the people to reaffirm their faith in one party at the national level so that an unstable coalition could be avoided at the Centre. ``For this, we have to wait for some more time, maybe two or more Lok Sabha elections. The dream of a Third Front may also be realised by that time,'' he hoped.

On the issue raised by expelled Congress leader Sharad Pawar, he said, ``I agree with him (Pawar) questioning the party being headed by Sonia Gandhi. The issue of Sonia becoming Prime Minister was an emotional one for all Indians and Pawar was right in pointing it out. I do not know what others in the party see in Sonia, to whom they all are clinging.''

He felt both Ramakrishna Hegde and George Fernandes, who had been supporting the BJP at the Centre, were not comfortable with the company they kept as he knew both of them closely. ``There will notbe a Third Front any more. The BJP--led alliance had broken down half-way through. I feel there will be no issues to be thrashed out during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,'' he added.

He reiterated that his Government had approached the Chief Election Commissioner to conduct both the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections separately.

Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.


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