Cong-JD(S) pact will not dent BJP’s prospects: Shobha

The BJP on Thursday said that the Congress and the JD(S) had entered into an “opportunistic alliance” yet again, as the two parties lacked the ability to fight the Ramanagara and Jamkhandi by polls independently.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, BJP general secretary and MP Shobha Karandlaje said that her party was confident of winning both the seats.

“BJP is a cadre-based party. The Congress-JD(S) alliance will not dent BJP’s prospects,” she said.

Karandlaje also said that that the Congress was intimidated by the BJP in Jamkhandi, while the JD(S) lacked the confidence to face the election in Ramanagara independently. The parties had thereby forged an alliance, she added.

She said that the Central Election Commission would announce the election date any time soon, and that the BJP was readying itself to face the bypolls.

“Though the BJP lacks base in Ramanagar, we will field a strong candidate in the constituency,” she added.

‘SMK will be with BJP’

On rumours that former chief minister S M Krishna would quit the BJP, Karandlaje said that such a scenario would not arise.

“Krishna joined the BJP opposing the dynasty politics in Congress. The party has accommodated him suitably. He is not upset or disgruntled. He will not quit the party,” Karandlaje added.