Take intiative for non-Cong, non-BJP alternative: JD(S)

Bangalore, Jun 29 (UNI) The Surendra Mohan faction of the National Janata Dal (Secular) has given the mandate to Karnataka unit leaders to take initiative to bring back all the Janata Pariwar workers to provide a non-Congress and non-BJP alternative both in the state and national level.

Talking to newspersons here JD(S) National President Surendra Mohan informed that the party's two-day National Executive Committee meeting, concluded here today had reviewed the political situation in the state. Karnataka unit had always played a pivotal role in finding an alternative to both Congress and BJP and had decided to find a platform to all progressive forces advocating good-governance and had belief in building a welfare society, he added.

Describing the expulsion of former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde with the instigation by the then Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in 1995 as a 'sad moment' for the party, he said, Mr Gowda did the same blunder by sacking former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Sidharamaiah and his associates.

Former Minister and senior JD(S) leader P G R Sindhia, speaking on the occasion said, in Karnataka there was always a space for third alternative political force and his party tried to end the corrupted regime in the state.

Mr Sindhia announced that he and the state party chief H Ekanthaiah, would tour all the 27 districts and hold talks with the Janata pariwar men and rebuild the party. On mid-term elections to the state Assembly Mr Sindhia said that they would strive to mobilise all the progressive organisations including Rajya Raitha Sangha to come together and fight in the elections.

Mr Sindhia alleged that the political developments witnessed during the last 16 months had shown that Karnataka politics was now following the way of Bihar politics. ''To remove such perception there is a need for all the progressive forces to come together and re-install the state's reputation at the national level,'' he said.

UNI