Gowda to launch JD(S) elections campaign from Jan first week

Bangalore, Dec 24 (UNI) Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) suprimo H D Deve Gowda will launch the first phase of his party's election campaign to the coming mid term-polls for the Karnataka Assembly in the first week of January next year.

Announcing this tonight he told newsmen that he would first concentrate on north Karnataka Districts.

JD(S) had been hit hard by dissident activity with in the party after it brought down the one week old BJP government in october, that had led to more then a dozen leaders, mostly former ministers or legislators.

The rebellion was led by former Deputy Chief Minister and prominent lingayat community leader M P Prakash. This group had quit the party and have decided to join some other party.

''I will start the north Karnataka tour, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who is recovering from open heart surgery last will join me later,'' Gowda said.

''We have launched a special membership drive to enrole one lakh new members in Karnataka. Mr Kumaraswamy will be leading the party in coming election,'' he added.

UNI