Mangaluru: The new state Janata Dal (S) president will be appointed by November 15, according to party supremo and former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda.
Speaking to reporters here he said all leaders would be consulted before a final choice was made. “We will consult all party leaders and arrive at a consensus on the next president, who will be appointed by around November 15,” he added.
While refusing to give the names shortlisted for the post, he said in future the JD(S) intended to give more representation to women in party posts both at the state level and in the taluk and district committees.
Mr Gowda , who had backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachcha Bharat Abhiyan, did not share his enthusiasm for bringing back black money stashed in banks abroad to the country .
“You want to bring back the black money stashed outside the country, but by now it must have been all withdrawn. Will they still retain their accounts when the government is searching for them?” he asked pertinently, advising the Modi government to first locate the black money that was already present in the country.
Refusing to comment on those who had quit the JD(S), he said he would strengthen the party with the help of his old associates. “Those who have quit will not return as they are out for power,” he claimed, without mentioning any names.
“I have many leaders and workers who have supported me since my days in the Congress (O). Over the years they have worked silently beside me without joining other parties.
But I have failed to identify them. Now I plan to contact such leaders in every village and strengthen the party with their support. Gowda or Kumaraswamy alone cannot build the party,” he declared.
