Gowda sees a 'conspiracy' behind LS bypolls

Former prime minister and JD(S) National President H D Deve Gowda has sensed a ‘conspiracy’ behind declaring Lok Sabha bypolls  i the State, ahead of the general elections.

“Mandya and Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituencies are held by JD(S) at present. The game plan is to ensure defeat of JD(S) candidates in the bypolls and thereby decimate the party in the general elections,” Deve Gowda said here on Tuesday. He was speaking after inaugurating a meeting of the party workers in Kunigal, Tumkur district.

Deve Gowda said it was not easy to face elections which have turned out to be a test by fire for JD(S). He said former ministers D Nagarajaiah, PGR Sindhia and other leaders have refused to contest bypolls and hence the candidates would be finalised after taking the party cadres into confidence. He termed the outcome of bypolls as a pointer to 2014 general elections.

The JD(S) supremo said the pre-poll surveys being published in the media were projecting only Congress and BJP.

“It is unfortunate that Deve Gowda who steered the nation for 11 months with the help of Third Front is not figuring anywhere in the survey,” he lamented.