Bangalore: Sharing a common platform, Janata Dal – United (JD-U) president and Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sharad Yadav and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on May 17 gave a call for the coming together of the splinter groups of Janata Dal.

The two leaders were speaking at a function to mark the birth centenary celebrations of former Prime Minister Charan Singh, an event which was billed as a step towards Janata parivar unity in Karnataka.

However, leaders of newly floated Akhila Bharat Janata Dal (ABJD), headed by former Karnataka Chief Minister S R Bommai, who are having differences with JD-U and JD-S on unity moves, were conspicuous by their absence.

Yadav urged the Janata parivar outfits to come together in Karnataka, which has always played a key role in uniting these parties and returning them to power ousting the Congress.

He said people of Karnataka have been eagerly looking for unity among Janata parivar parties and exhorted the leaders to sink their differences and join hands in bringing splinter groups under a common banner.

Yadav cautioned that if unity among divided Janata parties was not achieved, people would not forgive the leaders.

PTI