JOIN USJD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, on Thursday, said, the party leaders have decided not to field candidates for the by-elections of Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly constituencies, scheduled to be held on April 9.
Speaking to reporters here, Deve Gowda said, “There is no meaning in fielding candidates as the general elections are round the corner. The two national parties have taken the by-elections as a question of pride, and both the parties are under illusion. The by-election will not have any bearing on the 2018 Assembly elections as projected by them,” he said.
Deve Gowda said that his party will be neutral in the by-polls. “The JD(S) will not support any party or candidates in the by-elections to Nanjangud and Gundlupet.”
On the allegations of irregularities in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Deve Gowda said, “It is not possible to check irregularities during elections, and money plays a dominant role. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should prove that the BJP had not indulged in cash politics in the recently concluded Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
He confirmed that the party will not join hands with any political party in 2018 Assembly elections in the state. On BJP state president Yeddyurappa’s statements that a few JD(S) leaders would join BJP, Deve Gowda said, “No JD(S) party leaders will join the BJP, and it is Yeddyurappa’s assumption.”
Deve Gowda did not comment about the State budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Wednesday, and said, “I was busy with the inaugural ceremony of the party office in Bengaluru, and thus I am not aware of the announcements made in the budget.”