Bangalore: All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) Karnataka unit virtually split on October 2, when a section of its legislators announced their decision to join Janata Dal (Secular) led by former Prime Minister H D Devegowda.

A convention would soon be organised to mark the entry of this group into JD (S) fold soon at one of the locations in North Karnataka, former minister M P Prakash, who has taken a lead role, told reporters in Bangalore.

He claimed that eight AIPJD MLAs out of 18 have pledged support to their move and exuded confidence that many more would follow suit later.

Four MLAs namely B N Bacchegowda, A R Krishnamurthy, Mahadev Prakash and Amaregouda Byyapura were present.

Prakash said MLAs Karadi Sanganna, A B Patil, Chandranna and V S Malagi too have agreed to join JD (S), but were unable to be present due to pre-occupation.

He said former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislature group leader P G R Sindhia joining JD (S) recently was the first step and the eight-members walking into JD (S) would be the second step in the ongoing unity moves to bring together Janata parivar together to forge an alternative to Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

Devegowda has assured to restructure the party at grass root level after the split was formalised, he said.

Prakash said the verdict of people in the bye-elections at Hungund and Vemagal has a clear message to the Janata parivar that they were willing to vote if they were united.

Today's development comes as a fallout of dissent following the appointment of former minister K N Nagegowda, a political bete noire of Devegowda, as the state unit president of AIPJD in the midst of unity moves.

Several AIPJD leaders had opposed Nagegowda's appointment, which was made with senior leader Ramakrishna Hegde's support saying it would hamper the unity moves.

Prakash blamed the personal differences among top leaders for derailing and delaying the unity process, but refused to name any one.

He said there could be conspiracy among other political parties including Congress to prevent Janata Parivar coming together, as the latter's division would help them.

Prakash said the group's joining JD (S) should not be construed as a surrender.

Karnataka unit Lok Jan Shakti president M S Patil was also present.

PTI