JD(S) ministers to be sized up

Close on the heels of a similar exercise undertaken by their ruling coalition partner Congress, senior leaders of JD(S) would review the performance of party ministers at a meeting here on October 6.

Party supremo H D Deve Gowda, deputy chief minister M P Prakash and other senior leaders would hold discussions with ministers to "know how responsive they have been to people and party workers", JD (S) state spokesman Y S V Datta told reporters.

Datta said the party was satisfied with the performance of its ministers and the exercise was aimed at ensuring more effectiveness and better efficiency in their functioning.

He dismissed a suggestion that JD(S) was following in the footsteps of Congress, which had sent party general secretary and in charge of Karnataka affairs A K Antony to review the performance of Congress ministers last week.

Datta also dismissed suggestions that the JD(S) had suffered a split with the party rebel leader Siddaramaiah holding a parallel meet last week and declaring themselves to be the "real JD(S)".

He said it did not fall within the definition of a split as clearly spelt out by the election commission which had ruled that with whom the majority of legislators and functionaries were, was the deciding factor in such cases.

"Ninety nine per cent are with us. So it is not a split", he said.