Cong no more a national party: Deve Gowda

Bangalore, Sep 3: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) National President H D Deve Gowda today opined that Congress could no more boast of being a national party as it had lost its presence in many states in the country. Addressing a gathering at the party office here, Mr Gowda said no party can be built around an individual or family and its impact was being felt in the present status of the Congress in the country.

''A political party can grow only if it had a strong base of principles and ideals acceptable to all sections of the society'' he said.

Referring to the appointment of Mr Merajuddin Patel as the State Party Chief, Mr Gowda said Mr Merajuddin was made Party President not just because he belonged to a minority community. ''He stood the test of loyalty to the party and its ideals, and hence was qualified to head the state unit,'' he said.

Announcing his state-wide tour to strengthen the party organisation in view of the coming elections to the urban-local bodies, Mr Gowda said ''the party would accommodate equal number of minorities, dalits, women and other backward communities in providing tickets to contest the elections.'' UNI