DVS agrees with KSE on early polls

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has agreed with the statement of State BJP president K S Eshwarappa that the Assembly elections may be advanced to December this year.

He was speaking to reporters at the Jindal airport in Toranagal, on his way to Gulbarga to campaign for the Council elections from the North East Graduates’ constituency.

“Elections to the State Assembly are scheduled for April-May next year. But in case the Election Commission decides to conduct the Assembly polls along with those in other states, then they may be conducted four to five months in advance,” said the chief minister.

“Considering the recent developments in the State Congress, there are chances that the Election Commission may be pressured to hold elections in the State in advance. Eshwarappa’s statement comes in the wake of such a possibility. It aims at preparing the party workers for the polls,” Sadananda Gowda said.

About Siddaramaiah, who resigned as the Congress legislature party leader, he said: “Siddaramaiah has not got his due in any party. He was sidelined when he was in JD(S), which led him to form Ahinda. Then he joined Congress, but was neglected there too. He is still continuing in the party which does not respect him at all,” he criticised.

“I have not invited Siddaramaiah to join BJP. But if he approaches us in this regard, I am willing to speak to the party seniors,” he added.

‘BJP will win’

Gowda expressed confidence about BJP winning all the six seats in the Council polls.
“The State government has increased salary and dearness allowance of the government employees. So, it is expected that the graduates in government jobs will support BJP candidates,” he said.
Party leader Ananth Kumar was present.