From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 7: The ruling BJP opting for alliance with JD(S) in the ongoing Legislative Council elections shows its weakness, said Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D K Shivakumar on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, the State Congress Chief said the very fact that senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa preferring an electoral understanding with JD(S) shows the weakness of the ruling party and its sad plight.

“BJP is in power in the State and in Delhi. Yet, a national party has no confidence in its own strength and is going in for electoral understanding with JD(S),’’ he said pointing out that BJP is worried about defeat of its candidates in Shivamogga and other districts.

Asked about Congress party’s alliance with JD(S), Shivakumar described it as a different matter. ``Yes, our party has issue-based understanding with JD(S) and despite the alliance we had fought JD(S) in some districts. But it was friendly fight and never an alliance or understanding like that of BJP,’’ he said.

Shivakumar said BJP’s national leader Arun Singh had criticised JD(S) and JD(S) had lashed out at BJP. Even RSS leaders as well as several State BJP leaders had also abused JD(S). The very fact that BJP has been forced to forge its pride and shamelessly seek electoral understanding with JD(S) sends a clear message on the pathetic plight of BJP.

To a question on whether the electoral understanding between BJP and JD(S) was a sign for the future, the KPCC Chief said it was strange that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai or State BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel or other leaders were not talking about the alliance but only Yediuirappa is speaking. “Is this part of BJP strategy? This has to be explained by BJP,’’ he said.

Shivakumar said BJP voters will not support and vote of JD(S) in Bengaluru Rural or Ramanagara district. “Can Yediyurappa ask BJP voters to support JD(S) in Mandya district or his own birthplace of Bookanakere? Will they make such statements and campaign for JD(S) in Mysuru district? They may do it in places where the party has no candidates, he said pointing out that BJP was full of contradictions and confusions.

In Kolar, both BJP and JD(S) leaders are campaigning for their own candidates. So, who bothers about Yediyurappa’s statements? Can BJP afford to support JD(S) in Chikkaballapur? If BJP were to transfer its votes for JD(S), it loses its respect, he said.

Asked about his own statement that secular forces should fight unitedly against BJP, Shivakumar said he had suggested that Congress should have local adjustments with JD(S) in the local body polls in the past and had even spoken to JD(S) leaders. But it did not work. However, Congress had a friendly fight with JD(S) in Bengaluru Rural district.

The KPCC Chief was joined by former Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily, MLA Sharat Bacche Gowda, former Council Chairman V R Sudarshan and other leaders in campaigning for Congress candidate S Ravi.

Shivakumar also held a meeting with various Congress frontal unit leaders through its social media cell on zoom platform. Congress party’s Andaman Nicobar MP Kuldip Roy Sharma and Congress leader R V Venkatesh were present.