Armed with a memorandum signed by 48 party legislators, Gowda is leaving for Bangalore on Oct 18 to hear the aggrieved anti-Patel group which has demanded a change in leadership.

That Gowda, who confirmed that he had received the memorandum, was not happy with Patel was evident during his interaction with reporters this evening. Not even once did he make a positive reference to the government run by his own party.

Asked if he was satisfied with the State government's performance, he said: ``I don't have to give any certificate ... Have I ever said that I am not satisfied ? But if the legislators want to air their views I have no right to prevent them.''

To another question whether he was confident that Patel would be able to carry the party along with him in the run-up to the Assembly electionsnext year, he shot back: ``You better ask that question to Patel.''

Two senior ministers, MP Prakash and MC Nanaiah who were on an ``independent initiative'' to persuade the former Prime Minister to patch up with Patel, held discussions with him today for over three hours. While Gowda did not appear to have changed his views about the chief minister he however agreed to meet Patel in Bangalore.

``I have no objection to meeting Patel even if my visit to Bangalore is only to celebrate Deepavali,'' he said.

Gowda said that the legislators who had petitioned him wanted him to take more interest in Karnataka affairs to which he had agreed. ``If I am able to devote attention to Madhya Pradesh where my party has only three MLAs, why shouldn't I concentrate on Karnataka where we have a government ?'' he said.

Asked if he felt that the JD would be able to face the elections unitedly, he countered: ``Do you think the BJP will not be able to face the elections unitedly in Delhi just because the chief ministerhas been changed a month before the polls ?''

The former Prime Minister who will spend three days in Bangalore where a big reception has been planned for him by his supporters at the airport sought to discount media speculation that he was going back to the State as chief minister. ``If tomorrow elections are held to the Lok Sabha I will contest them. I have not retired from national politics,'' he remarked.

Gowda's supporters led by his sons HD Revanna and HD Kumarasawamy who have made unsuccessful attempts in the past to dislodge Patel feel that their grip over the party is weakening because the chief minister has been taking independent decisions. Relations between Gowda and State party chief BL Shankar, until recently a protege, have also nosedived.

Their determination to unseat Patel is reflected in the alternatives being floated for chief ministership. Some of the names doing the rounds are those of Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Prakash and Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar.