Friday, April 29 2005 17:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Brushing aside protestations from its coalition Government partner Congress, the JDS (Janata Dal Secular) has set the stage for its controversial "rally" Bangalore tomorrow (Apr 30, 2005) for what it claimed "to espouse the cause of slum dwellers".

Perceived to be the second major show of strength by JDS, apparently targeting Congress, after a conclave of gram panchayat members staged last month, tomorrow's rally is being characterised the one "against its own Government" by the Congress.

Much political significance has been attached to the rally, despite JDS chief H D Deve Gowda's attempts to play down his party's intention saying that it was not aimed at the Government, but to focus the administration's attention on the problems of slum dwellers.

Speaking to reporters after supervising preparations at the palace grounds, the venue for the meeting, Gowda reiterated that that the programme was not against the Dharam Singh Government, but took a snipe at detractors, challenging Congress and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) to organise rallies in support of poor as was being done by his party.

Gowda said the rally would adopt few resolutions, but declined to give details.

Gowda has not answered on whom the resolutions to be passed at the meeting would be binding. Obviously, it has to address them to the Government.

An unfazed Chief Minister N Dharam Singh speaking to the press at his official residence "Anugraha" declared "I am not bothered about the rally".

Gowda hinted that tomorrow's rally would not be the end of it and he would repeat similar shows taking up people's problems at district headquarters in the coming months.

Gowda who began preparations for this rally, attacking the Government demanding action against land grabbers, later climbed down saying the protest was in favour of slum dwellers.

The JDS would also be releasing a book tomorrow highlighting the programmes the Janata Dal and United Front Government initiated for the welfare of slum dwellers.

Locked in wordy duel

Relations between the coalition Government partners Congress and JDS has not been on smooth lines ever since the Government assumed office eleven months ago.

Leaders of both parties have been locked in wordy duel on several issues and JDS has threatened to pull out of the Government on several occasion over the issue of Cabinet expansion, appointment of chiefs to boards and corporations.

Congress leaders have also dared their JDS counterparts to translate their threat into action.

In the meanwhile, Singh indicated that the exercise of naming new chiefs to boards and corporations and filling up of two ministerial berths belonging to Congress quota might be delayed further and could happen only after the Zilla and Taluk Panchayat polls due to be held next month.

More than 40 vokkaliga leaders of Congress criticised Gowda for his rally and demanded the former Prime Minister to prove his charge that 45,000 acres of land has been encroached by land grabbers in and around Bangalore City, failing which they said he should apologise to people.

The leaders also threatened to launch counter agitation against, Gowda.

The outcome of tomorrow's rally would set the direction for the future relations between the coalition partners, whose relations have already been strained.

The ties forged between Congress and JDS might to govern might deteriorate during the Zill and Taluk Panchayat elections, as the parties have declared to fight on their own.

The upcoming by-election to Shimoga Lok Sabha seat, vacated by former Chief Minister S Bangarappa after he quit BJP and Chamarajpet Assembly constituency would also play a key role in deciding the relations between the two parties.

Congress and JDS have already fought the Bidar Lok Sabha bye-election, which the Congress won.