LS by-polls semi-final to 2019 general elections: HDK

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, on Monday, termed the upcoming by-polls as the "semi-final" to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing the media at the JD(S) party office, Kumaraswamy said that both the Congress and the JD(S) were confident of winning all five constituencies going to polls on November 3.

"The BJP has termed this partnership as an unholy alliance. But people will decide the fate of this coalition. These by-polls will stand testimony to it," he added.

The Chief Minister said that none of the three major political parties, including the BJP, had either expected or anticipated the announcement of the by-polls by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

"Now that the election dates are announced, it has become inevitable for us to enter the electoral battlefield," he said.

Kumaraswamy also said that the BJP was continuing to make futile attempts to regain power.

"The BJP has been making futile attempts to form a new government after Deepavali. Hopefully the party will stop making such attempts after the by-poll results are announced," he added.

Anitha's candidature

Kumaraswamy, who will be accompanying his wife Anitha Kumaraswamy when she files her nominations in Ramanagara today, said that it was not his decision to field her.

"There are no personal or selfish motives here. The party workers had demanded that somebody from the family (H D Deve Gowda family) be fielded in Ramanagara when the seat fell vacant. The people of the constituency treat me like their son - I am merely fulfilling their wish. There were also speculations that the third generation of the Gowda family would be fielded in these elections. But such was never the case," added Kumaraswamy.

Kumaraswamy contested from both Ramanagara and Channapatna during the Assembly elections held earlier this year. He won both seats. Kumaraswamy chose to retain Channapatna and vacate Ramanagara.

'God's wish'

On his party's decision to field former MLA Madhu Bangarappa from Shivamogga, Kumaraswamy said that it was "God's wish".

"I was very upset that he was defeated in Soraba -- that a young and dynamic leader like him couldn't join me in the cabinet. None of us had expected the outcome. But if he had won the Assembly election, we wouldn't field him in these by-polls. It was the unanimous decision of both the Congress and the JD(S) to field him from Shivamogga. This is nothing but God's wish. I consider him my blood brother. I will be by his side when he files his nomination papers tomorrow," he said.

Kumaraswamy said that Madhu would be the party's candidate for the Lok Sabha elections also.

BSP alliance

On BSP MLA N Mahesh's exit from the cabinet, Kumaraswamy said that it was BSP's "internal matter". He however said that the JD(S)-BSP alliance was intact.

When asked if either he or JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda had spoken to BSP chief Mayawati, Kumaraswamy said that he had spoken to BSP National General Secretary, Satish Mishra.

"Satish Mishra called me. He requested me to accept Mahesh's resignation. His decision to resign was BSP's internal matter. Why should I question those decisions? That's not in my purview. The alliance with BSP will continue," he added.