The Hindu : We trust Bangarappa, says Ananth Kumar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

We trust Bangarappa, says Ananth Kumar

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MARCH 2. "We trust S. Bangarappa 100 per cent." This was how the State BJP President, H.N. Ananth Kumar, reacted today when asked how much the BJP could trust the former Chief Minister who had been in and out of the Congress a number of times.

Mr. Kumar said the Congress had lost the elections when Mr. Bangarappa had left the party in 1983 and 1994. This time too the Congress would end up losing the elections.

Addressing presspersons after admitting the former Minister and senior leader of the Janata Dal (U), G. Basavanappa into the BJP, Mr. Kumar said the party would welcome those who wanted to strengthen the hands of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"We are holding discussions with Mr. Bangarappa," he replied to a question as to when he would be joining the party.

Asked what was the reaction of the senior BJP leader, B.S. Yediyurappa, who hails from the same district, Shimoga, as Mr. Bangarappa, Mr. Kumar said, "Mr. Yediyurappa has built the party in Karnataka and it is under his guidance that the process of polarisation of forces and admission of members into the party is taking place."

Mr. Yediyurappa, who was present at the press conference, said, "Our primary aim is to defeat the Congress in Karnataka. We see the BJP coming to power here and we would like to use Mr. Bangarappa's experience."

Mr. Kumar reiterated the BJP stand that it would have no truck with the All-India Progressive Janata Dal.

The BJP also admitted into the party the former Minister and Janata Dal (S) leader, Nagappa Saloni; the former legislator, E. Nanje Gowda; and Vageesh Prasad, industrialist.

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