The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BJP to go it alone in bypoll, says Eshwarappa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 08, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP to go it alone in bypoll, says Eshwarappa

Special Correspondent

Eshwarappa downplays differences between JD(S) and BJP

`Deve Gowda happy with works taken up by Government'

Decision on appointment to boards to be taken soon

K.S. Eshwarappa

BANGALORE: Minister for Water Resources K.S. Eshwarappa on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would go it alone in the byelection to the Assembly from the Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysore district to be held on December 4.

Addressing presspersons here, he said the BJP would field a candidate against the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress. The ruling parties had contested independently in the elections to the Legislative Council from teachers' and graduates' constituencies.

"To maintain the party's existence in the constituency, it will definitely field a candidate." Party candidate M. Appanna stood third in the 2004 Assembly elections, he said.

The Congress has decided to field former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The BJP and the JD (S) are yet to announce their candidates. In the last Assembly elections, Mr. Siddaramaiah defeated Congress candidate L. Revana Siddaiah. While Mr. Siddaramaiah bagged 90,727 votes, Mr. Siddaiah secured 58,382 votes.

Mr. Eshwarappa downplayed the differences between the coalition partners and asserted that the BJP did not surrender to the Janata Dal (S) in sanctioning of development works or release of funds. However, he admitted that the party was unhappy with the selection of candidates for the Karnataka Rajyotsava and Ekikarana awards. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had announced the list without following the "coalition dharma", he said.

Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) president H.D. Deve Gowda had appreciated the development works undertaken by the coalition Government.

Unlike the previous Congress governments, the Janata Dal (S)-BJP Government had released adequate funds for various works, he said.

Asked about dissatisfaction among the party MLAs over the delay in appointment to boards and corporations, Mr. Eshwarappa said that a decision on the matter would be taken soon.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa held a meeting with legislators from north Karnataka on Monday and promised them to get their works done soon, Mr. Eshwarappa said.

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