Rebel JD(S) faction declares Nanu as national prez, to back INDIA bloc

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Expelled JD(S) national vice president C K Nanu on Monday was declared as the new national president of the party, replacing former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, by the rebel faction being propped up by leaders like C M Ibrahim.

At a "national plenary meeting" convened by Nanu, the rebel faction, along with "acting" against Gowda for deciding to join the BJP-led NDA, declared itself to be the "actual JD(S)", while announcing support to INDIA bloc.

They have also decided on moving to the Election Commission in this regard.

The Gowda-led JD(S) on Saturday expelled rebels Ibrahim and Nanu for “antiparty” activities.

"For two seats (in Lok Sabha), for the interest of your children, at the age of 92-years you (Gowda) sacrificed the ideology...." Ibrahim, a former Union Minister who was earlier the JD(S) state President, said after the meeting.

"We gave him (Gowda) three opportunities -- on October 16 we held a meeting here, on November 9, we held a meeting in Kerala and requested to change the decision (of going with BJP), you (Gowda) didn't change," he said.