The Hindu : Karnataka News : JD(U) to coordinate campaign with BJP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 07, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

JD(U) to coordinate campaign with BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, APRIL 6. The President of the State unit of the Janata Dal (United), B. Somashekar, has said that the party would work closely with the BJP to ensure that there was no misunderstanding in the run-up to the elections.

He told presspersons here today that the Janata Dal (U), which was keen on contesting the Hosadurga Assembly seat and had even issued the `B' form to its candidate, Mallikarjun, had today directed him to retire in favour of the BJP candidate as their ally was keen on the seat. "We do not want a repetition of the 1999 elections when there were plenty of rebel candidates in the fray. We are confident that the NDA will form the Government in the State and the Congress will be ousted. Nothing will work in favour of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), which have a secret understanding."

The Janata Dal (U) President said the NDA would launch a joint campaign in the State shortly and the schedule was being worked out by the leaders of the BJP and the Janata Dal (U). Even the publicity material would be common although the candidates of the two parties were contesting on their respective party symbol.

Mr. Somashekar, who released a list of ten more candidates of the party for the second phase of the elections, said the Janata Dal (U) was yet to finalise its candidate for the Mandya and the Chamarajanagar seats. The candidates for the two constituencies would be finalised well before the deadline. Earlier, the party had announced a list of 15 candidates, including a candidate for the Chickaballapur seat. "We may not be happy with the number of seats allotted to us by the BJP, but yet we will coordinate with that party in the interests of the alliance finalised at the highest level." He said the people of Mandya district, particularly Maddur, had lost their regard for the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, since he had chosen to contest from Chamarajpet in Bangalore. "He has apparently shifted because of the fallout of the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The farmers of Mandya are angry with him. In an effort to regain power, the Congress has resorted to undemocratic methods, including wooing Janata Dal leaders and entering into a secret understanding with the Janata Dal (S). We are confident the people will understand all this and vote for the NDA which is the only alternative to the Congress," he added.

The candidates named by the party today were Prahalad Rehamani (Khanapur), A.B. Desai (Dharwad Rural), Mallikarjun S. Akki (Kundgol), Ganganna Mahant Shettar (Shirahatti), Nagamani Nage Gowda (Kirgaval), Sarvesh Basavaiah (Kollegal), Anwar (Narasimharaja), I.M. Jayarama Shetty (Baindur), Abdul Ali Bohra (Mandya), and H.N. Nanje Gowda for the Hassan Lok Sabha seat.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka