Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Mar 30: ‘It is true that our party has not fielded any candidate in Koppal Lok Sabha constituency. At the same time, rumours about extending support to Congress candidate there are grossly untrue,’ JDS supremo, Deve Gowda, said, contradicting claim of JDS MLA, Iqbal Ansari about extending external support to Congress candidate in Koppal.

JDS legislator from Gangavati, Iqbal Ansari, who had been originally tipped to be fielded for Koppal Lok Sabha seat, had on Thursday, informed that JDS had decided to support Congress candidate from Koppal, Basavaraj Hitnal. In response to this statement, JDS national president, Deve Gowda, addressing a press conference in the city, dismissed this claim.

"This information about extending support to Congress candidate in Koppal is false. A decision on who to support will be taken after party leader, Zameer Ahmed, visits the constituency, and holds discussions with party workers. We can consider supporting only non-BJP and non-Congress candidates who are secular," he stressed.