Sharad Yadav to visit Karnataka on May 5

Bangalore, May 2 (UNI) Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav, on a mission to reunite the Janata Parivar, will pay a two-day visit to Karnataka from May five.

During his visit, he is likely to meet former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) President H D Deve Gowda and seek his cooperation for succeeding in the mission, JD(U) State President B Somasekhar told newspersons here today.

He said Mr Yadav's visit was also aimed at rejuvenating the party state unit and a road map might be drawn for the state unit after discussions with party legislators and workers. Besides, the question of continuing support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka would also be discussed.

Mr Somasekhar charged the BJP with neglecting JD(U) and not even showing the basic courtesy of consulting the party before forming a coalition Government with JD(S), despite taking full advantage of the party during elections. ''We welcome BJP's move to keep away from the Congress, but BJP should not have forgotten the benefits taken from JD(U),'' he said.

He said JD(S) had proved that there was no ideological difference between the two JD parties by joining hands with the BJP to form a Government in Karnataka, keeping the Congress away from power.

Strongly condemning the reservation move of the UPA Government at the Centre, he accused Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh of giving misleading statements on the issue. ''However, JD(U) is for reservation in private companies,'' he added.

UNI MSP GD MSJ KP1510