Patel Ministry Survives By A Whisker

The 13-month old J H Patel ministry in Karnataka survived by a whisker yesterday as the pro-Laloo leadership prevailed on 10 ministers not to quit the ministry and to participate in the presidential poll as directed by the Chief minister. However, six Lok Sabha members, including Jalappa and Rajya Sabha member and Union HRD minister S R Bommai boycotted the poll, taking the boycott tally to 25.

Patel requested four of his senior ministers, including deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, to cast their votes in the interest of saving the government from instability. Following a heated exchange, Patel reportedly directed the ministers to vote or quit the ministry. Soon after all the 10 ministers offered to quit but Jalappa and Bommai prevailed over them not to take such a hasty decision. Patel, who has been playing neutral, was being guided by former Prime Minister H D Devegowda.

Patel who had spoken about desciplinary action if any national council member fails to participate in the polls changed his stance today to say at best I can say if anyone boycots the poll it will be politically incorrect stand.

According to one senior minister Jalappa and bommai advised us to accede to the CM`s directive as poll boycot or voting was too trivial an issue to destabilise the government. He said all of us expressed our willingness to resign but we were pressurised to participate in polling. it is only a temporary repreive for the chief minister and the ball is in his court to make next move said a JD Loksabha member indicating that once party splits at national level state would also get affected. He said if patel decides to come out of the shadow of Devegowda he will sail other wise he will sink.

A patel loyalist minister confirmed that the chief minister would be weighing both the options, of going with the Anti-Gowda group which has Hegde lopyalists to back it or to stay put in the shadow of Gowda. Before deciding , he said , Jd Legislature party and state executive committee would meet to advise the leader on future course of action. our plans to consult JDLP and state executive stands even if the party splits in delhi he added.

In the meantime seven MP`s who boycotted the poll along with their group has decided to exert pressure on party Legislators to weab patel away from Gowda`s shadow to isolate the former prime minister totally he said , now Devegowda is in a vulnerable position following boycot by l