Ending his public posture of estrangement with his son, JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda on Monday formally appointed his son Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy as JDS Legislature Party leader.
The decision came within weeks after suspending him from the party for joining hands with BJP to form government.
After weeks of strong protests against his son's actions that saw the collapse of the JDS-Congress ministry, Gowda spoke out his mind to announce that "Kumaraswamy is the leader of the MLAs".
However, Gowda refused to answer queries on what he would do on his action of suspending him and his followers.
"Time is the answer for all the questions lurking in the minds of the media and the general public."
"Doubts will be cleared at an appropriate time," he told reporters, refusing to take any questions on change in his perception.
Leaving no doubts about Kumaraswamy's leadership, Gowda also said he would be consulted by the newly-appointed president, MP Prakash, and other senior leaders on appointment of other office-bearers of the party.
"People will ridicule us if there is any split," said Gowda, who had stepped down as the party's national president after his son joined hands with BJP.
{{/usCountry}}"People will ridicule us if there is any split," said Gowda, who had stepped down as the party's national president after his son joined hands with BJP.
{{/usCountry}}He later retraced his step following reported pressure from the party's national leaders.
Gowda said it was he who had "suffered a self-inflicted punishment" ever since the political drama unfolded from January when his son revolted to withdraw support to the Dharam Singh government paving the way for installation of JDS-BJP ministry.