Sharad Yadav asks supporters to vote for Cong

Emphasising that the immediate task is to defeat BJP, rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav on Tuesday asked his supporters in Karnataka to vote for Congress.

Yadav, who is planning to launch his own party next month, will also campaign in the state if there is an invite from the Siddaramaiah-led Congress in the state. His supporters in the state will campaign for Congress candidates.

In his assessment, Congress is slated to trounce the BJP in the May 12 elections. "Karnataka election is an important political event before the Lok Sabha polls. My assessment is that Congress party will have an edge over the BJP and other parties contesting elections. Congress is giving a good fight," he told DH.

He said there was a demand from his supporters to contest the elections in some seats in alliance with the Congress. "However, Congress could not accommodate our candidates. They have given a seat to one our supporters. We have now decided that in order to defeat the BJP, we should not compel the Congress for seats," he said.

The name of Aravind Dalwai was suggested by Yadav for the Arabhavi seat and he is contesting on the Congress symbol. Yadav had given a list of eight candidates for seats where Congress had come third in the last elections.

Asked why he is not supporting his friend in erstwhile Janata Dal, he said he remain friends with its chief H D Deve Gowda. "I feel Congress is in a position to defeat the BJP. We have to see who can strongly take on the BJP. That's why we are supporting them. Deve Gowda is an old friend," he said.

About predictions that there will be a hung assembly, he expressed confidence that Congress will get majority. "Siddaramaiah knows social engineering and he is a master in it. Yeddyurappa is an average leader," he added.