Revanna defends HDK on support to Independent

Addressing reporters here, he said the party has taken a neutral stand in the byelection, which has been thrust on the people. “The party workers in the constituency have been given the freedom to support any candidate they think is ideal to defeat the BJP and the Congress,” he said.

Revanna’s defence against Kumaraswamy assumes significance as the former is known to be a yes-man of the party national president, his father, H D Deve Gowda. The party chief is said to have opposed Kumaraswamy’s plan to support Sriramulu. Sriramulu, a close associate of Janardhana Reddy, is one of the independent candidates.

Kumaraswamy is said to be expecting a major political churning in the ruling BJP in the event of Sriramulu’s victory in the bypoll and that he wants to take full advantage of it. Hence, the former chief minister is trying to cosy up to Sriramulu, who still has the support of about 10 MLAs from the ruling party.

JD(S) supporting Sriramulu became clearer when Kumaraswamy’s close confidant and Chamarajpet MLA Zamir Ahmed Khan openly campaigned for Sriramulu in the constituency, recently. When asked about Khan’s campaign, Revanna said he was not aware of any party leader campaigning in the constituency.

Petition to Governor

JD(S) spokesperson Y S V Datta said the party will petition Governor H R Bhardwaj, seeking appropriate action against the BJP government in the wake of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa stating that goons were controlling Bellary district in the last three years.