‘Non-aligned’ JD(S) to decide on pact today

NT Correspondent

Mandya: The Janata Dal (Secular) will decide on Tuesday on extending support to other parties in the election to the Legislative Council from local bodies constituencies. Disclosing this at a news conference here on Monday, JD(S) leader and former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy said that he had not said anything till now about tying up with any party for the Council polls. But he had been authorised by party supremo and national president H.D. Deve Gowda to take a final call on the issue. So far, there has been no formal request from the BJP seeking its support in the Council polls with only BJP leader B.S.Yediyurappa making a reference to this once or twice.

Kumaraswamy said whenever elections are round the corner, it is a habit for the Congress to spread this canard to mislead people. His party supremo had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the setting up an IIT in Hassan and this has been clarified by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi too. The demand for an IIT in Hassan had been pending for many years. But Congress leaders have shown how petty they are by giving political colour to the Modi-Gowda meeting in Delhi. His father had only discussed developmental issues pertaining to Karnataka with Modi, he added.

The former CM said neither the Congress nor BJP have JD(S) support as of now. Yediyurappa had sought JD(S) support in constituencies where the party had not fielded its candidates. Taking these factors into consideration, the JD(S) will take a suitable decision on Tuesday.

Kumarasamy also said that the JD(S) is contesting in six seats and is facing a tough battle with the BJP in three constituencies. The BJP is talking of defeating JD(S) candidates in all six constituencies and claims to have a strong presence in Mandya. So, both the Congress and BJP are ‘common enemies’, he said adding that the Congress is systematically trying to finish off the JD(S).