Mangalore: Congress, BJP Two Faces of Same Coin - Deve Gowda

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/NM)

Mangalore, Nov 20: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supreme H D Deve Gowda said that in the coming days the party will be strengthened statewide. He would go to campaign in all 30 districts and candidates will be nominated in all the constituencies, he said.

He was speaking at  a press meet held on Sunday November 20 in the city en route to Udupi to participate at a party convention at Kaup.

Coming down heavily on Congress and BJP, Deve Gowda said that both are two faces of the same coin when it comes to corruption. Santosh Hegde has built his image and need not worry about any adverse comments from those in BJP, he said.

To a query on CM’s way of functioning, he said that he has doubts over whether Sadananda Gowda is functioning with all freedom.
 
The former Prime Minister also hinted that the political scenario will change nationwide with much polarization between the parties in store. Till date not a single party with majority could form a government at the centre. "Coalition era started at the national level in V P Singh’s time. Either before the election or afterwards coalition is indeed necessary to form government," he said.
 
He said that he himself had advised not to nominate JD(S) candidates for Koppal and Bellary by-elections. "BJP as the ruling party has the advantage of sweeping power, but our aim is to make the party strong at the base," he said.

"A party should be strong at grass roots level, hence our efforts are on in that front," he asserted.
 
Deve Gowda also said that he would be the last person to take advantage of a split in any party, when journalists asked about JD(S) support being extended to Sriramulu in Bellary by-elections.
 
Speaking on UPA government, Deve Gowda said that PM Manmohan Singh had himself admitted that agriculture sector in the nation was being neglected, which is a matter of concern and should be looked into.
 
To a query on illegal mining and land scam issues in the state, he said that when Kumaraswamy was in power, there was a complaint against S M Krishna and this was also included in the election manifesto of the party in the year 2004. Also, formation of a special court to handle the case was demanded, but everything was in vain, he said.
 
While issuing B-form to party candidates in the coming elections, a high-profile committee will be formed to decide on the deserving candidates, he said.

JD(S) spokeperson Y S V Datta, leaders Deviprasad Shetty, Mohammed Kunhi, Vasanth Poojary, M B Sadashiva were present.