BJP-JD(S) secret pact' out in the open

Ashoka, other leaders campaign for Anitha Kumaraswamy in B’lore Rural constituency.

A section of the BJP leaders, unmindful of severe criticism by the Congress, went ahead with campaigning for the JD(S) candidates for the August 21 byelections to Mandya and Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha seats, even on the last day of public campaigning on Monday.

The candidates can conduct door-to-door campaign and padayatra to woo voters till August 20. The counting of votes is on August 25.

While some BJP leaders shared the dais with the JD(S) candidates during the campaign, some resorted to group meetings and sending messages to their workers to vote for the JD(S).

Some hard core BJP leaders stayed away from campaigning, saying they have nothing do with this poll.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has roped in not less than 24 ministers for electioneering, extensively toured these constituencies. He and his party colleagues mocked at the JD(S) for taking the support of the BJP.

Anitha, wife of JD(S) State president H D Kumaraswamy, is facing a tough fight against Congress’ D K Suresh, who is the brother of senior MLA D K Shivakumar. In Mandya, cine actor Ramya is the Congress candidate against C S Puttaraju of the JD(S).

Not heeding the adverse comments, BJP leaders and MLAs R Ashoka and M Krishnappa together campaigned in Jigani and Bannerghatta for Anitha and thus reaffirmed that the two parties had tied up against the Congress.

Ashoka had campaigned with Anitha in Uttarahalli on Sunday. The JD(S) leaders H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy have been shying away from publicly acknowledging the tie-up with the saffron party, fearing that they would lose the goodwill of Muslim voters, who are in good numbers in Ramanagara and Channapatna.

Campaigning for Anitha, BJP MLA M Krishnappa, who pulled out of the race in favour of JD(S) in Bangalore Rural, said that he was hopeful of a JD(S) victory.

“I started my day at 9.30 am and covered my constituency, seeking votes for Anitha. Our leader Ashoka came for a brief 10-minute campaign and left,” he said.

Krishnappa, brother of former BJP MLA M Srinivas, who joined the Congress recently, said that he was confident of a JD(S) victory.

Away from the rally

A Narayanaswamy, former BJP MLA and former minister, did not publicly campaign for Anitha, but spread the word among his followers that they should support the JD(S).
When contacted by this paper, Narayanaswamy said, “I have told my workers to follow my instruction.

The BJP has very strong presence in Anekal. The Congress has to be defeated, because it has failed on three counts - to contain price rise, provide security to the country and mitigate corruption,” he added.

BJP MLC Ashwathnarayan, who canvassed for C S Puttaraju of the JD(S) in Mandya town on Monday, said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had failed on all fronts. There was nothing wrong in supporting the JD(S) in this poll.

“We explained to the people as to why the BJP is supporting the JD(S). We had ruled the State for 20 months together. We explained the work we had done at that time. We are sure of a JD(S) victory,” he said.