BJP shell-shocked as its Ramanagara candidate withdraws, rejoins Cong, backs Anitha

coastaldigest.com web desk

November 1, 2018

Bengaluru, Nov 1: In a major embarrassment to the BJP ahead of the bypolls, its Ramanagara candidate, L Chandrashekar has withdrawn from the race declaring that he will rejoin the Congress.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru on Thursday, Chandrashekar claimed that he was forced to take such a decision as he found no support or cooperation from leaders in the BJP. The party lacked unity, he said.

He also said that he would extend support to the coalition candidate, Anitha Kumaraswamy, leaving the saffron party red-faced.

"I am deeply hurt by the negligence shown by the BJP leaders. Not only was I completely sidelined, but the factionalism in the BJP also started to adversely impact my candidature. The BJP leaders can't tolerate each other. Also, none of them were accessible to me. That is why I have decided to withdraw from the race and support Anitha Kumaraswamy," he said.

Chandrashekar, who had joined the BJP just two days before the bypoll nomination dates were announced, hit out at all senior saffron leaders including B S Yeddyurappa, D V Sadananda Gowda, C P Yogeeshwara and R Ashoka.

"Yeddyurappa has made it apparent that he doesn't even want to talk to me. While Sadananda Gowda has been conducting press conferences for the heck of it, Ashoka does not even bother to stop by Ramanagara, while he is on his way to Mandya. Yogeeshwara had promised to handle the election expenditure. But none of the leaders even bothered to campaign for me. I had no selfish motives when I joined the BJP. But the infighting was too much for me to handle," he added.

During the presser, he was flanked by Congress MP D K Suresh, who is in charge of the Ramanagara bypoll for the JD(S)-Congress combine.

Suresh said that he welcomed Chandrashekar's decision. "Chandrashekar is originally from Congress. I welcome his decision. He is upset with the BJP leaders for the way they have treated him. I don't blame him for taking such a call," he said, adding that Chandrashekar had informed the Election Commission about his decision.

With Chandrashekar's departure from the contest, Anitha, wife of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, is facing the elections alongside five other independent candidates.

The bypoll here was necessitated after Kumaraswamy, who contested from both Ramanagara and Channapatna, decided to retain the latter.

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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

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