No Threat From Hegde: Patel

Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel yesterday dismissed any threat to his government stemming from Lok Shakti, former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegdes party, which has asked the ruling party legislators to revolt against his alleged bad administration.

This is the umpteenth time they are repeating this (threat). The people have seen the truth behind this, Patel told reporters.

Asked if the reported combination of Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav and Hegde would affect the Janata Dal and his ministry, Patel replied, it will not affect the party or the government.

In its Mysore meet, the Lok Shakti had charged Patel with bad governance and told the legislators to ponder over this and set August 30 as the deadline for them to act in what the party leaders said, amounted to a call to dal legislators to revolt against their own government. Asked about the crisis in the Janata Dal at the national level on the party presidentship issue, Patel said he favoured holding of elections in a free and fair manner and ruled out the possibility of a split.

He said, when the Congress with all its intricacies has the courage to face organisational elections, we should not hesitate. It will send a wrong signal.

Patel said he was not in favour of any particular candidate and whoever wins will become the president. To a query, he said if Prime Minister I K Gujral emerged as a unanimous candidate for presidentship, he would be happy.