“The JD(S) has suffered a lot by joining hands with the Congress and the BJP during the 40-month period. We do not want to suffer any more,” Gowda told reporters in Bangalore.

He, however, exuded confidence that the people of the State will bring the party back to power. Hitting out at the Congress for ‘conspiring’ to defeat his two sons by fielding women candidates, he said that it shows that the fear of defeat is already haunting Congress leaders, and alleged that the party is therefore resorting to devious ways to win the elections.