Wednesday, August 10 2005 15:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Janata Dal Secular (JDS) leaders who have been rallying behind the dismissed Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today (Aug 10, 2005) set August 20 deadline to the Party Chief H D Devegowda to 'repent and rectify the mistake' in sacking three leaders from the coalition Government.

The party's National Vice President C M Ibrahim and Former Minister M N Nabi addressing a press conference in Bangalore described the unceremonious toppling of Siddaramaiah, H C Mahadevappa and Satish Jharkhiholi from the ministry as an 'undemocratic act'.

While taking a dig at Gowda and refusing to rake up another controversy, Ibrahim demanded that by August 20 the Party Chief make amends to the mistakes committed by the party in recent days.

On August 20 a rally has been called by Backward Classes, Dalits and Minorities at Tumkur, to express solidarity with Siddaramaiah, who was axed for attending a similar convention at Hubli on July 24 defying the diktats of Gowda.

Ibrahim, a former Union Minister, claimed that Siddaramaiah camp enjoyed the support of 21 MLAs out of 59 and the number would swell in the coming days, as most of the legislators were dejected over the affairs in JDS.

He also claimed that the Congress-JDS coalition Government would collapse in about three months and in the upcoming elections, the JDS headed by Gowda would be decimated from the existing strength of 60 legislators to a mere four.

Ibrahim accused Gowda of taking unilateral decisions without consulting National Parliamentary Board or the State Executive while axing the ministers.