'Congress, BJP two faces of same coin'

JD(S) may support Sriramulu, says Deve Gowda

 Addressing a press meet here on Sunday, he said the JD(S) district unit has been given the power to support any candidate other than the BJP and the Congress. If they wish to support independent candidate Sriramulu, they can do so.

He said that the JD(S) will be strengthened across the state. “I will visit all the 30 districts to strengthen the party and to boost the party workers. The JD(S) will field its candidate in all the 224 constituencies in the coming election.”

He said that he himself had advised not to field JD(S) candidates for Koppal and Bellary by-elections. BJP as the ruling party has the advantage of coming to power. But our aim is to make the party strong at the base, he said.

“My battle is to bring back the JD(S) to power,” he added.

Coming down heavily on the Congress and the  BJP, former Prime Minister  said that both are two faces of the same coin when it comes to corruption.

Former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde has built his image and need not worry about any adverse comments from those in BJP. He should stop commenting on any comments from the BJP.

“Coming before the media and commenting for any statement made by the politicians do not go well with his stature,” he opined.The former Prime Minister also hinted that the political scenario will change nationwide with much polarization between the parties in store. Till date not even a single party with majority could form a government at the Centre. Either before the election or afterwards, coalition is indeed necessary to form government,” he said.

Deve Gowda also said that he would be the last person to take advantage of a split in any party.

‘Bill should be a tool’

On Prevention of Communal and Targetted Violence Bill 2011 which will be placed in the winter session of the Parliament, Deve Gowda said that the Bill should not become a tool for the political party and it should not be used arbitarily. If there was any such clauses wherein political parties can utilise it as a tool, then the JD(S) will have reservation over the Bill and will demand discussion.

‘DV can do better, if given freedom’

To a query on Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda’s administation in the State, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda said that Sadananda Gowda will be a better Chief Minister provided he is given full freedom.

“I have doubt over his freedom. If he is given freedom, then he can carry out well.”