Fernandes to strive for re-establishing internal democracy

Bangalore, Apr 21 (UNI) Former defence minister and NDA Convener George Fernandes, recently ousted from post of Janata Dal (United) president, today said the party's internal democracy had weakened and he would strive to re-establish it.

Addressing newspersons here, he alleged that no election was held for the post of party President as the electoral list itself was rigged during the process. There were over 1,000 members who were eligible to cast their votes. However, it was ''illegally'' reduced to 400, he said.

Declining to accept that he was ousted from the post, Mr Fernandes said ''When the election itself could not take place.

where is the question of ousting me.'' He said there was an internal machinery in the party to sort out such issues and he would fight for re-establishing internal democracy.

Mr Fernandes said he had no intention of approaching the Election Commission on this issue.

He said the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar was doing well and said he had broken away from the Janata Dal, along with Mr Kumar and others and floated a new party after failing to prevent RJD President Lalu Prasad from''dipping into deep corruption.'' On extending support to any party in the coming by-election to Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency, in which Congress President Sonia Gandhi was seeking re-election, Mr Fernandes said the party had not taken any decision in this regard.

He opined that the country would witness a radical change in the political scenario after the outcome of the elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Pondichery and Kerala. However, he brushed aside the possibilities of formation of third front at the national level.

On his recent meeting with JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda, he said there was nothing significant about the visit. He had just called upon Mr Gowda when he had come to the city to attend the Guruvandana programme of Tumkur Sidhaganga Swamiji, he added.

Asked about the possibility of JD (S) legislators joining the ministry, he said it was for Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to take a decision in this regard.

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