J D (S) removes Veerendra Kumar from leadership

New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) Janata Dal (Secular) today removed Mr M P Veerendra Kumar from the Parliamentary Party's leadership and suspended him from the primary membership of the party for anti-party activities in the recently concluded by-elections to Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency in Karnataka.

Mr Veerendra Kumar, a former Union Minister was accused of gross indiscipline for openly campaining in the bypoll in support of Congress candidate and issuing statements against the party leadership, J D (S) Secretary General Kunwar Danish Ali said announcing the party's decision.

He said the party President had taken the decision following the complaints from J D (S) Chief Whip S Shivanna who had alleged that Mr Kumar was not convening the Parliamentary Party meeting despite repeated requests. He was authorised by National President to convene the Parliamentary Party meeting which took the decision to remove Mr Kumar from the leadership and chose Mr Gowda to head the leadership of the party. All the four MPs except Mr Kumar attended the meeting.

Prior to Mr Kumar, the party has suspended former Karnataka Minister P G R Sindhya who together with senior J D (S) leader Surendra Kumar had threatened to remove Mr Gowda from the party presidentship.

Mr Kumar, an MP from Kerala and part of the Left Front, has been uncomfortable in the party right from the day J D (S) aligned itself with the BJP to form the Government in Karnataka in February this year.

Asked about the suspension, notice against 46 MLAs including Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Mr Ali said the report of the Disciplinary Committee of the party would be placed before the National Executive meeting on December 25 in Delhi.

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