Karnataka crisis
Rebels close ranks with Patel

NEW DELHI, Oct 27 (PTI) — Dissident Karnataka Janata Dal MLAs today closed their ranks with Chief Minister J.H. Patel against a no-confidence motion being planned by the Congress even as Mr Patel ruled out a change of leadership and the dissidents demanded that he "pass the test" in the Dal legislature party.

"I welcome it. I will prove my majority on the floor of the assembly," Mr Patel, who met senior party leaders here, said dismissing the dissidents’ demand for change of leadership as a "wishful thinking".

The assembly begins a brief session on Thursday. Mr Patel said the party bickering would have no effect on the floor of the House as the Janata Dal was one party in the assembly.

The dissidents seemed to share his view when they said in Bangalore that they would not vote against the government for a Congress-sponsored no-confidence motion.

Dissidents’ spokesmen, however, said Mr Patel "has to pass the test" in JD legislature party whose meeting Mr Patel said he would convene only after the assembly session concluding on November 11.

The dissident MLAs would meet in Bangalore tomorrow to chalk out their next course of action.

Meanwhile, the Congress in Karnataka decided to table a no-confidence motion taking note of the "serious conflict" in the ruling Janata Dal.

The dissidents’ spokesmen asserted that they would demonstrate their strength in the JDLP which they have been insisting must be held before the legislature session.

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, who is leading the dissidents’ camp, declined to comment.

Mr Gowda also called on Speaker Ramesh Kumar but what transpired between them was not known.

To a question that Mr Gowda was inspiring dissidents because he had been marginalised, Mr Patel said he had not marginalised anybody and in fact he had been accused of giving more freedom to his ministerial colleagues.

When asked if Mr Gowda had been isolated, he said "He is not saying it as a senior leader Mr Gowda had a right to talk to MLAs and find out their grievances."

The Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM) today expressed solidarity with Mr J.H. Patel "in his hour of political crisis" and said the morcha had "all sympathies" with him.

RLM spokesman Amar Singh told reporters that Mr Patel had criticised the CBI raid on Bihar Chief Minister’s residence.

"Mr Patel supported us at the time of our crisis and we reciprocate his gesture and express our sympathies with him during the present political crisis in Karnataka," he said.