'I am contesting election to save regional parties'

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said that farmers had not committed suicide when he was the prime minister.

"I did not allow communal forces to thrive," he said while addressing JD(S)-Congress workers, while campaigning for Hassan candidate Prajwal Revanna, at Changadahalli near Shanivarasanthe on Wednesday.

"I am contesting the election with a sole aim to save regional parties. Unity of a country is more important than anything else," he said and appealed to the voters to vote for Congress-JD(S) candidate Vijayashankar from Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency.

Hassan Lok Sabha constituency JD(S) candidate Prajwal Revanna said, "The election is being contested for bringing in a political change. I will work for the development of the constituency if elected."