The Kerala committee of the Janata Dal(S) headed by M P Veerendrakumar was on Sunday dissolved by the party's national president H D Deve Gowda, indicating that both leaders are gearing up for a final showdown.

In place of the dissolved panel, Gowda appointed an ad hoc committee with M N Joseph as the president.

Overruling the objections of Veerendrakumar, the national executive on Saturday had decided that the party would stay with the CPM-led LDF in Kerala. Immediately declaring a war on the national leadership, Veerendrakumar had said the state executive would meet on next Sunday to decide on the future course of action.

Gowda said Veerendrakumar and his supporters would invite disciplinary action if they went ahead with the state executive meeting. K Krishnakutty, who had been removed as the party state general secretary for criticising Gowda, was on Sunday summarily removed from the primary membership of the party on charges of indiscipline.

"Dissident activities had been going on even during the Lok Sabha elections and Veerendrakumar even tried for a Congress ticket for his son from Vadakara seat in the polls," said party general secretary Danish Ali in Delhi.

Reacting to the dissolution of the state committee, Veerendrakumar said the decision was expected. "Gowda's decisions have been always motivated by his personal interests," he said.

National general secretary Varghese George said Gowda had no right to dissolve the state unit of the party. His decision would be treated with contempt. Veerendrakumar, who was said to have ensured Left's defeat in as many as five seats in Kerala (this was formally acknowledged by the CPM in its internal report), was also accused by the JD(S) leadership of allowing his newspaper to be used in the CPM's factional fight.