Council polls: JD (S) to initiate action against whip violators

Bangalore, May 31: Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka will initiate legal action against former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his supporters, if they violate the party whip in in the elections to the Legislative Council to be held here tomorrow, Party State Chief M P Prakash said today.

Mr Prakash was reacting to Mr Siddaramaiah's recent remarks that there was no question of following the whip as the election was being held outside the Assembly purview.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Prakash said Mr Siddaramaiah might have his own views, but he had to follow the party guidelines. ''We have several methods and evidences to know who will violate the whip on that election day and action will be initiated against the violators,'' he warned.

Future course of action would be decided depending on the move of Mr Siddaramaiah and his supporters, he added.

Mr Prakash said Party Parliamentary Board Chairman D Manjunath had already written to the Assembly Speaker against these members and the ball was now in the latter's court to decide on their disqualification.

To a question, he exuded confidence that the party's fourth candidate in the Council elections would emerge victorious. Janata Dal (United) Chief Sharad Yadhav had discussed the matter with JD(S) supremo H D Devegowda and assured the support of his party legislators during the elections. ''We have friends in other parties and some independents have also assured to support the party,'' he added.

Terming as false former Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily's claim that he had issued an order with regard to protecting the interests of the backwards classes during his tenure, Mr Prakash said he had never issued such an order and his decision was restricted to only one particular year.

He urged Mr Moily, who had been appointed head of the Oversight Committee, to consider various recommendations made by the Havanur Commission with regard to backward classes before finalising his report.

UNI