The Hindu : Karnataka News : Sharad Yadav rules out talks of poll tie-up for now

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Karnataka

Sharad Yadav rules out talks of poll tie-up for now

Special Correspondent

‘Janata Dal (U) is regaining lost ground by taking up people’s issues’

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Gaining strength: Sharad Yadav (centre), president, Janata Dal (United), with B. Somashekar (left) and Basavaraj Bommai at the party office-bearers’ meeting in Bangalore on Friday.

BANGALORE: Janata Dal (United) President and MP Sharad Yadav on Friday said that the Congress was losing elections in one State after another whereas his party was regaining its ground by taking up people’s issues such as special economic zones on fertile land, food security and corruption in high offices, including the judiciary.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the party’s State unit office-bearers and district presidents, Mr. Yadav ruled out talks of an alliance at this juncture. However, the local unit of the party has been authorised to decide on its partner at a suitable time, if necessary.

He said that the party would be strengthened at all levels, highlighting the role it played in the Opposition benches in Parliament and the programmes it implemented in Bihar and Karnataka, while in power.

Mr. Yadav said that the Janata Dal (U) had a legacy left behind by leaders such as S. Nijalingappa, Ramakrishna Hegde, S.R. Bommai and J.H. Patel and it could reach the masses by taking up issues on those lines in rural areas. Apart from these, he said the Janata Dal (U) Government in Bihar had refused to acquire fertile land for special economic zones.

The State unit chief, B. Somasekhar, said that the leaders who addressed the meeting had desired that the party should go it alone in the polls and contest from all the 224 constituencies.

He said that there was a consensus on fighting the culture of corporatisation of politics. He said that they alleged that all the three major parties, the Congress, the Janata Dal (S) and the Bharatiya Janata Party, had shared power and had betrayed the people during the last 40 months. The parties had lost the moral right to criticise one other, he quoted them as saying.

Prominent among those spoke were the former floor leader in the Assembly, J.C. Madhuswamy, the former Minister, Veeranna, the former MLA, Michael Fernandes, MLC Basavaraj Bommai and Nazeer Ahmed.

A senior leader who also attended the meeting said that Mr. Yadav had advised the local leaders not to approach the BJP seeking an alliance immediately and wait till the elections were announced.

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