JD(S)-Cong spat over tie-up

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a convention here on Sunday, he reacted to the Congress ruling out a tie-up with the JD(S).
“The JD(S) has enough strength to face the bypolls on its own. It has been proved time and again during many elections held in the recent past,” he said.

Congress General Secretary B K Hari Prasad had said the party would not join hands with the JD(S) for any elections, including coming bypolls to  Channapatna, Bangarpet and Jagalur Assembly constituencies on April 9.

Kumaraswamy said the JD(S) had been maintaining equi-distance from both the BJP and the Congress.

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah too said the Congress was ready to fight the byelections on its own.

Both Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah, however, were unanimous in blaming the BJP. They said people would teach the party a lesson for conducting ‘Operation Lotus’. The bypolls were necessitated due to the resignation of MLAs from these constituencies to join the BJP.

Home Minister R Ashoka expressed confidence that the BJP would win all three seats.
The party recently held a meeting on the first round of selection and the candidates would be finalised soon, he said.

HDK in fray?

Speculations are rife that H D Kumaraswamy, MP from Bangalore Rural, may contest from Channapatna in the the byelection.

The JD(S) wanted to retain its hold over the constituency it won in a bypoll held after the resignation of C P Yogeshwar (Congress). Sources said after losing hope of becoming a Union Minister Kumaraswamy was planning to return to State politics. Kumaraswamy said the party would finalise candidates soon.