Nearly seven weeks after his son HD Kumaraswamy formed a coalition government with the BJP against his wishes in Karnataka, JDS supremo HD Devegowda on Monday gave a formal stamp of approval to his party's legislative leadership.
"Kumaraswamy will function as leader of MLAs," Gowda told reporters in Bangalore after he announced the appointment of senior leader MP Prakash as the party's state unit president.
Gowda said Kumaraswamy would also submit names of the deputy leader and secretary of the legislative party to the Speaker.
He would also be consulted by the newly appointed president and other senior office-bearers on appointment to other posts, including working president.
The list would be finally approved by Gowda, he said.
He also announced appointment of another senior leader D Manjunath as chairman of the party's Parliamentary Board and Meerajuddin Patel as chairman of the Political Affairs Committee.
Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti would head the legislative wing of MLCs and Prakash would preside over joint meetings of MLAs and MLCs.
"People will ridicule us if there is any split" said Gowda, who as party president, had maintained a strong public posture against his son being seen in the company of BJP in the seat of power and had even suspended him and others only recently.
{{/usCountry}}"People will ridicule us if there is any split" said Gowda, who as party president, had maintained a strong public posture against his son being seen in the company of BJP in the seat of power and had even suspended him and others only recently.
{{/usCountry}}"All should cooperate in maintaining harmony".