JD(S) meet on Feb 10 to discuss candidates for polls

The Janata Dal (S) will hold a state-level convention in Bengaluru on February 10 to strengthen the grassroots of the party and start preparations for next year’s Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday, JD(S) national president and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda said the convention to held at Palace Grounds will discuss selection of candidates for the next year’s polls.

Party office bearers, former and present members of zilla and taluk panchayats among others will be invited for the convention. Gowda said two teams will tour the state to select probable candidates for the Assembly polls. Candidates will be selected across all communities.

Replying to a query, Gowda said there was no question of revoking the suspension of the MLAs who have been suspended from the JD(S) for defying the party whip and cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections last June. “They are not required in the party”, he added.

Of the eight legislators who have been suspended, Mahalakshmi Layout MLA K Gopaliah recently submitted an “apology letter” to the party.

He stated that he regretted that he had cross voted and he be pardoned. Gowda blamed the state government for not paying adequate compensation to farmers whose lands have been acquired for industrial purposes. Till date, 2.5 lakh hectares have been acquired from farmers, he pointed out.

Gowda said the state government should take immediate steps to ensure “excess land” acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board for the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Project is returned to farmers.