The former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly N. Dharam Singh on Thursday said that the Janata Dal (S) had become desperate with the growing popularity of the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is seeking re-election from the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency in Mysore, and the frequent visits of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to the constituency showed this.

Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore, the former Chief Minister said that Mr. Kumaraswamy was afraid of a Janata Dal (S) defeat in the election.

The JD (S) was even contemplating to seek postponement of the byelection citing the Panchalingeshwara festival. The Chief Minister even assured 5,000 houses for the poor in Chamundeshwari alone, the former Chief Minister said.

Mr. Singh said that the coalition Government was hankering for power and publicity without delivering the goods. Exuding confidence that Mr. Siddaramaiah would win hands down, he said that there was a groundswell of support for him.

The JD (S)-BJP Government was not solving problems, but only making false promises. Asked whether JD (S) president H.D. Deve Gowda betrayed him, Mr. Singh said in fact he had betrayed Congress president Sonia Gandhi by withdrawing support (to his Government). Mr. Deve Gowda had betrayed the secular forces such as the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which supported the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre. The JD (S) leader M.P. Veerendra Kumar had openly attacked Mr. Deve Gowda for the shift in his stance on secularism, he said.

Having failed on all fronts, the coalition Government was trying to fool the people by playing gimmicks such as holding a legislature session in Belgaum.

Mr. Singh alleged that the Chief Minister was pursuing vindictive politics. The administration had collapsed and there was no control over the bureaucracy. Several dams and canals had breached resulting in huge loss to the property and agricultural crops, the former Chief Minister said and added that he was undertaking a tour to assess the loss.

Press Club president M.A. Ponnappa welcomed the gathering.

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