Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Dec 24: Samajwadi Party state unit president S Bangarappa said that groundwork for the merger of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party is under way and once the by-polls in the states conclude, the merger will become a reality.

Participating in a press conference on the occasion his visit to the local constituency to canvass for the Congress candidate Satish Seil, he said that he had come here on an invitation by the Congress. However, he denied that an understanding had been struck between the two parties as of now.

"My reputation will not suffer by virtue of joining the Congress again, once the merger materializes. Decisions are taken as per the demands of the situation," he clarified, confirming that he would fight the next Loksabha election from Shimoga constituency. Samajwadi Party leaders Bheemanna Naik, Prashant Deshpande, Prabhakar Rane, M R Naik and Kagodu Timmappa were present at the press conference.

Bangarappa said that the defeat of the BJP in the ensuing by-election will pave way for the resurgence of India. Himself a party-hopper, Bangarappa questioned the grounds on which Anand Asnotikar, who had won from a Congress ticket, defected to the BJP without consulting those who voted for him. "He should be made to answer for his actions," he thundered, speaking at an election meeting organized to seek votes for Seil. "Congress party has a historic background. In the last election, I sought votes for the Samajwadi Party. Now, I seek votes for the Congress. My only aim is to decimate the BJP," he said.