New Delhi, Nov 11: The Kerala state unit of JD(S) led by Lok Sabha Member Shri M P Veerendrakumar, which had parted ways with party national president Sh H D Deve Gowda, today formally returned to the parent party.

Announcing the return of its Kerala unit at a joint press conference here with Shri Kumar, Shri Gowda today said that it was a welcome move and the party would now unitedly combat communal forces at the national level.

"The Kerala unit of our party had parted ways with us due to a political turbulence in 2006 ... Now it is back with us and we are going to fight communal forces together at the national level. It is one of our strongest state units in the country. Its return will give a new message and make JD(S) a national party." Shri Gowda said.

Shri Veerendrakumar said that "contentious issues due to which we had left the party, don't exist any more, therefore we decided to come back. We completely agree with the political thinking of the party and will combat communal forces".

Sh Gowda said that even though the state unit has returned to the party fold, it would continue to support the LDF government in Kerala as "JD(S) is the natural ally of LDF in the state".

JD (S) has five MLAs in the Kerala Assembly including a Minister in the LDF Govt. Shri Veerendra Kumar is the party’s lone Lok Sabha Member from the state.

Janata Dal (Secular) Secretary General and Spokesman Shri Danish Ali announced that the party will be informing the Election Commission in writing that Sh M P Veerendrakumar’s suspension from the parent party has been revoked and he has been appointed the President of the Kerala State Committee which has now been restored.

Shri Veerendra Kumar is also the Leader of the JD (S) Parliamentary Party and will also continue as a Member of the National Executive.

Shri Gowda also announced the appointment of Dr Varughese George as the National General Secretary of the Janata Dal (Secular).

Sh Ali announced the revocation of the suspension of Prof N M Joseph, Shri C K Nanu and Dr Varughese George from the national executive of the party and appointment of the Shri K Krishnan Kutty, Shri K P Mohanan (Leader, Legislature Party, Kerala), Shri Mathew T Thomas (Minister for Transport, Kerala), Shri M V Shreyams Kumar, MLA, Shri M K Premnath, MLA and Shri Jose Thettayil, MLA to the National Executive.

Advocate Ms. Annie Sweetie and Shri Sheikh P Harris will continue as Special Invitees of the National Executive.

Kunwar Danish Ali
Secretary General