Gowda patches up with son Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, Mar 20: Janata Dal (Secular) President H D Deve Gowda has appointed his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who was suspended from the party for dethroning the Dharam Singh government and joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the party floor leader in the Legislative Assembly.

Addressing newspersons here today, Mr Gowda announced that Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti would be the party's floor leader in the Legislative Council. Former Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash has been made the new JD(S) State President, recognising his contribution to save the party from an imminent split during the recent crisis.

He said former Ministers Mr D Manjunath and Mr Mirajuddin Patel would be the Parliamentary Board Chairman and Political Affairs Committee Chairman respectively. The other party office bearers would be selected by Mr Prakash after consultating with other leaders, he added.

Mr Gowda said Mr Kumaraswamy has been conferred with powers to issue whips and handle all other responsibilities with regard to party affairs in the Assembly.

Stating that he had inflicted punishment upon himself during the last two months of political turbulence in the party, which helped him get ''political realisation,'' he said he had entrusted the task of building the party and realising its policies and programmes with Mr Prakash and other senior leaders.

Refusing to answer any question by the reporters, he said, ''time is the only answer'', for all questions.

Speaking after taking over as the new party chief in the State, Mr Prakash assured that he would strive hard to lead both the party and the Government in the right path.

Former Ministers Mr Mahadeva Prasad, Mr Mirajuddin Patel, Mr D Manjunath Ms Mahima Patel, Mr Narayana Swamy were among the others present on the occasion.

Outgoing party State President Mr N Thippanna, who had played a vital role in installing the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in the State, was however absent.

UNI