Prakash group ditches JD(S)

The expected split in the Janata Dal (S) became a reality on Wednesday with 11 former legislators, led by former deputy chief minister M P Prakash, announcing their resignation from the party.

These 11 leaders said they did not want to remain in a party that failed to promote internal democracy.

"All decisions taken by the party in the last three months are unilateral. They have been influenced by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda. We do not want to identify ourselves with such a party," one of the leaders told reporters here.

These MLAs, majority of them hailing from the state's largest community "" Veerashaiva "" raised a banner of revolt after JD(S) withdrew support to the one-week-old BJP government.

"Such decisions have lowered the image of the party. Besides, it will do no good for us. We have individual political ambitions to pursue. We are forwarding our resignations to party leaders," they stated.

They are yet to take a decision on their next course of action. "We will not float a new party. We will keep our options open," Prakash said.

Their announcement comes two days after 11 former legislators belonging to the Vokkaliga community ditched the Prakash camp.

The group led by former minister N Cheluvarayaswamy preferred to remain in JD(S) following certain assurances given to them by former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. Initially, 22 former legislators, including 11 Vokkaligas, were backing Prakash.