Monday, January 23 2006 15:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: In a significant development, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Krishna today (Jan 23, 2006) met former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and held discussions with him on the issue of recognising rebel leader and his son H D Kumaraswamy as leader of the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) Legislature party.

The meeting, which Krishna described as 'courtesy' call, assumes importance in the backdrop of the rebel group petitioning him on January 19 seeking recognition of Kumaraswamy as JDSLP leader replacing the incumbent Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash.

Krishna has to decide on the rebels' letter ahead of the legislature session on January 27, when Chief Minister N Dharam Singh seeks a vote of confidence. On January 18, JDS rebels under the leadership of Kumaraswamy called on the Governor T N Chaturvedi and submitted a letter withdrawing support to the coalition government headed by Singh.

Hours after that, Gowda wrote to the governor not to give credence to Kumaraswamy's letter, saying his son was neither authorised by party nor was he the leader of the legislature group. Gowda said Prakash continued to be the leader of the JDS legislature group.

The speaker has recognised Prakash as the JDSLP leader after the party sacked former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah from the post, following his revolt against Gowda.