BANGALORE, Nov 11: National Front leader and former prime minister, H D Deve Gowda, has taken serious exception to the continuance of Lok Shakti leader Ramakrishna Hegde's loyalists in the J H Patel Ministry in Karnataka.

According to sources close to Gowda, the former prime minister, who had a meeting with nearly forty ruling party legislators at his son and State Housing Minister H D Revanna's official residence Anugraha here, told the Legislators that while he was not for any change in the leadership of the State he was certainly against Patel continuing Hegde's loyalists in the Ministry. The sources informed that in Gowda's opinion, presence of R V Deshpande, Ramesh C Jigajinagi, Ananth Nag and Gurupadappa Nagamarpalli in the Patel Ministry would send wrong signals besides helping Hegde in getting political mileage in the next elections.

Expressing displeasure over Transport Minister P G R Sindhia's reported remarks of dynasty rule and his admittance that he ``distributed'' liquor and money to win elections, Gowda, it is said, wanted Patel to ``throwaway'' Sindhia from the Cabinet. He is also said to have been annoyed with Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his failure in disciplining those who were constantly levelling charges against him (Gowda).

Gowda, who also feels that he had been sidelined with no one consulting him at the national level on political issues after I K Gujral became the prime minister, is said to have been trying to regain lost ground in the state politics by maintaining at the meeting that there was nothing wrong in holding talks with the party legislators.

However, the legislators took serious exception to Patel's reported statement ``I do not care'' even if all the legislators meet Gowda. They are understood to have opined that either a change in the leadership of the state or a cabinet reshuffle was neccesary to strengthen the party.

Talking to media persons after the meet, Gowda said stated that there was no threat either to J H Patel-led Government or to the Patel leadership in Karnataka.

``After the meeting, I have come to know of several problems that exist right from the grassroot to the top level. Now I know what are the problems and try to solve them by discussing those problems with the Chief Minister J H Patel. As a party workers, I will certainly take all necessary steps.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.