The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Bihar poll results cheer JD(U)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bihar poll results cheer JD(U)

Special Correspondent

They will have an impact on the Government in Karnataka: Somashekar

B. Somashekar

Bangalore: Janata Dal (United) State unit President B. Somashekar has said the BJP-JD(U) combine, which has triumphed in the Bihar Assembly elections, will win polls in other States.

The victory of the combine in Bihar has boosted morale in the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal (U) although the party is not an ally of the BJP after the 2004 elections. The two parties have decided to contest independently in the coming panchayat elections.

Mr. Somashekar told presspersons here on Tuesday that the victory is a severe setback for the United Progressive Government (UPA) at the Centre. The communist parties have fared poorly and this indicated that the people have not accepted the alliance, he said.

In a reference to the coalition between the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) in Karnataka, he said it is time for parties which are associated with the Congress to reconsider their strategy. Those who were members of the erstwhile Janata Party should strengthen secular and democratic forces. "The Bihar election results will have an impact on the coalition Government in Karnataka, which is on the verge of collapse," he said. Mr. Somashekar demanded the removal of Bihar Governor Buta Singh in the light of the people's mandate. He said Mr. Singh broke norms and preferred President's rule in Bihar, thwarting the chances of the BJP-JD(U) coming to power. By giving a landslide victory to the combine, the people have told the Governor and the Congress leadership that their steps to capture power were unconstitutional, he added.

A group of Janata Dal (U) leaders from Karnataka campaigned in Bihar. According to them, Bihar witnessed a contest between good leadership and corrupt politics.

A Janata Dal (U) team, led by Mr. Somashekar, is leaving for Patna on Wednesday to attend the swearing in of the new government headed by Nitish Kumar.

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