JD(S) to field Shivananda Naik from Uttara Kannada

 The JD(S) on Thursday declared Shivananada Naik its candidate for Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha constituency. Madhu Bangarappa was given a free hand in selection of the candidate from the constituency for the general elections.

On losing the principal Opposition status, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said that the party was never keen on retaining the position by compromising on their values. “Both KJP and BJP merged for the sake of seeking the position. If we wanted, we could have. BSR Congress and its leader Sriramalu had come to us seeking a merger,” he said. The party has decided to host a convention of the Third Front by February 20. Kumaraswamy said 13 regional parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Left parties, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Janata Dal (United) and the Y S Rajashekar (YSR) Congress, have been invited to the convention.

JD(S) youth wing president Madhu Bangarappa said it will host a convention on February 29 in Bangalore. In the next few days, he said, the party youth wing will launch a drive across the State to enrol members for the convention.