MYSORE: Describing the byelection to the Assembly from Chamundeshwari constituency as "dharma yuddha", leaders of Janata Dal (Secular), including former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, said on Friday that justice would prevail and people would teach a lesson to former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who had forced the election on them.

Addressing a public meeting here after Shivabasappa filed his nomination papers as Janata Dal (S) candidate, Mr. Deve Gowda said the party would ensure the victory of its candidate. He said that though he opposed the formation of the BJP-JD(S) coalition Government, he was now satisfied with its "pro-people" programmes. As the Congress was engaged in destabilising the Government, he could not keep quite and would make every effort to protect it despite his poor health.

Hinting at a major political development after the byelection, Mr. Deve Gowda said he would expose the "evil designs" of the Congress in the coming days.

Terming the byelection another challenge after the election to the Lok Sabha from Kanakapura constituency, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, "I will not stay in Mysore city but in a village that hosts my last campaign meeting every day."

He said the programme of providing soft loan of Rs. 5,000 to weaker sections would be extended to other parts of the State also.

Model

He promised the people that he would make Chamundeshwari as one of the model constituencies if the party candidate was elected.

Reacting to the reported criticisms by Mr. Siddaramaiah against him and Mr. Deve Gowda, Mr. Kumaraswamy sought to know if making Mr. Siddaramiah the Deputy Chief Minister a mistake of Mr. Deve Gowda.

Explaining the circumstances that forced him to become Chief Minister, he said though he wanted senior leaders such as M.P. Prakash and Rajashekaramurthy to became Chief Minister, he had accepted the challenge just to save the party from being divided.

Mr. Prakash described Mr. Deve Gowda as a champion of backward classes and minorities. He challenged the United Progressive Government to provide loans to farmers at 4 per cent interest on the lines of the State Government.

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