Siddaramaiah demands expulsion of Gowda

Bangalore, Mar 21 (UNI) All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today demanded the Janata Dal (Secular) to expel its President H D Deve Gowda from the party for openly pronouncing his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, suspended for anti-party activities, as the JD(S) Legislature Party leader.

Talking to newspersons here, he said, ''The cat is now out of the bag'' with Mr Gowda endorsing the act of Mr Kumaraswamy in aligning with the BJP to dislodge the Congress-led coalition Government and take over the reigns of the State.''It is all a drama enacted by Mr Gowda who is now happy that his son has become the Chief Minister.'' Reiterating that the former Prime Minister was more keen on promoting his family than the party, Mr Siddaramaiah said. ''The true colours of Mr Gowda have now been exposed''. By this move, he had gone against the wishes of the party National Executive, which had suspended Mr Kumaraswamy and 39 other Legislators.'' On former Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash being made the party State President, he said, ''No senior leader with self respect will continue to remain in the party after having suffered the ignominy and having been cheated by Mr Gowda.'' UNI VK GD CS RK1332