<p>Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a convention here on Sunday, he reacted to the Congress ruling out a tie-up with the JD(S). <br />“The JD(S) has enough strength to face the bypolls on its own. It has been proved time and again during many elections held in the recent past,” he said.<br /><br />Congress General Secretary B K Hari Prasad had said the party would not join hands with the JD(S) for any elections, including coming bypolls to Channapatna, Bangarpet and Jagalur Assembly constituencies on April 9. <br /><br />Kumaraswamy said the JD(S) had been maintaining equi-distance from both the BJP and the Congress.<br /><br />Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah too said the Congress was ready to fight the byelections on its own. <br /><br />Both Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah, however, were unanimous in blaming the BJP. They said people would teach the party a lesson for conducting ‘Operation Lotus’. The bypolls were necessitated due to the resignation of MLAs from these constituencies to join the BJP.<br /><br />Home Minister R Ashoka expressed confidence that the BJP would win all three seats. <br />The party recently held a meeting on the first round of selection and the candidates would be finalised soon, he said.</p>.<p>HDK in fray?<br /><br />Speculations are rife that H D Kumaraswamy, MP from Bangalore Rural, may contest from Channapatna in the the byelection.<br /><br />The JD(S) wanted to retain its hold over the constituency it won in a bypoll held after the resignation of C P Yogeshwar (Congress). Sources said after losing hope of becoming a Union Minister Kumaraswamy was planning to return to State politics. Kumaraswamy said the party would finalise candidates soon. </p>
<p>Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a convention here on Sunday, he reacted to the Congress ruling out a tie-up with the JD(S). <br />“The JD(S) has enough strength to face the bypolls on its own. It has been proved time and again during many elections held in the recent past,” he said.<br /><br />Congress General Secretary B K Hari Prasad had said the party would not join hands with the JD(S) for any elections, including coming bypolls to Channapatna, Bangarpet and Jagalur Assembly constituencies on April 9. <br /><br />Kumaraswamy said the JD(S) had been maintaining equi-distance from both the BJP and the Congress.<br /><br />Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah too said the Congress was ready to fight the byelections on its own. <br /><br />Both Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah, however, were unanimous in blaming the BJP. They said people would teach the party a lesson for conducting ‘Operation Lotus’. The bypolls were necessitated due to the resignation of MLAs from these constituencies to join the BJP.<br /><br />Home Minister R Ashoka expressed confidence that the BJP would win all three seats. <br />The party recently held a meeting on the first round of selection and the candidates would be finalised soon, he said.</p>.<p>HDK in fray?<br /><br />Speculations are rife that H D Kumaraswamy, MP from Bangalore Rural, may contest from Channapatna in the the byelection.<br /><br />The JD(S) wanted to retain its hold over the constituency it won in a bypoll held after the resignation of C P Yogeshwar (Congress). Sources said after losing hope of becoming a Union Minister Kumaraswamy was planning to return to State politics. Kumaraswamy said the party would finalise candidates soon. </p>
