JD(S) will not contest byelections

 Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday officially decided not to field candidates in forthcoming byelections in Nanjangud and Gundlupet. Byelections has been necessitated following the death of minister H S Mahadeva Prasad (Gundlupet) and resignation of former Minister V Srinivas Prasad (Nanjangud).

Announcing the decision after the first JD(S) Legislative Party meeting in the party office JP Bhavan, party state president H D Kumaraswamy said that there is no point in contesting the bypoll as the state is going to polls in less than a year. “We will maintain a neutral stand and focus on building party for the 2018 election,” he said.

The meeting also decided to hold a mega party workers’ meet at Palace Grounds on March 23. All legislators, including 33 MLAs and 13 MLCs, have been tasked with more responsibility to organise the party. He said that a list of office-bearers was also finalised at the meeting. Earlier in the day, former prime minister and party national president H D Deve Gowda and wife Chennamma conducted performed puja and Homas formally inaugurating the new party office.