NEW DELHI S.R. Bommai, 66, was Saturday unanimously elected president of the ruling Janata Dal succeeding VP Singh who gave up the post under the one man one post principle.

Bommai, a former chief minister of Karnataka will be party president till elections to the post are held in October.

Bommai was elected after his rival Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav MP bowed out of the contest Saturday.

Dal’s general secretary S. Jaipal Reddy, also a candidate for the president ship, was persuaded to withdraw from the race late Friday by senior party leaders including Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal.

Bommai’s election for the top post was announced by the returning officer and federal finance minister Prof Madhu Dandavate.

Yadav’s withdrawal was announced by senior Janata Dal leader Chandra Shekhar and party general secretary Yashwant Sinha.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 1, 1990