The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘We’re only following a tradition’

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Monday, Jul 07, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘We’re only following a tradition’

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Minister for Energy K.S. Eshwarappa on Sunday defended the BJP’s decision to admit four leaders of the Congress and Janata Dal (S), who have resigned their Assembly membership, and said the party was only “continuing the tradition that was started by the Congress.”

After former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah quit the Janata Dal (Secular) and resigned as MLA, the Congress gave him the ticket to contest the byelection to the Assembly from the Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysore.

The BJP was continuing the tradition, Mr. Eshwarappa told presspersons on the sidelines of the 45th general body meeting of the Karnataka Electricity Board Engineers’ Association here.

He said that as the people were unhappy with the Congress and the Janata Dal (S), some MLAs from these parties joined BJP to respect the people’s faith in it.

Some more legislators from the Congress and Janata Dal (S) might join the BJP, he said.

On reports that Mr. Siddaramaiah too was likely to join the BJP, Mr. Eshwarappa said he had not spoken to the former Deputy Chief Minister in this regard.

“Now, I will talk to him as you are advising me to do so,” the Minister said in a lighter vein.

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