Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Feb 28: "If someone feels that Modi wave or BJP wave exists in Karnataka, it is nothing but his or her own illusion. Even leaders of the saffron party are well aware of it. If Congress and JD(S) parties work with mutual support, BJP will struggle to get even five seats," said state JD(S) president, H Vishwanath.
Speaking to a Kannada daily here, Vishwanath said that his party is gearing up fully for the election under the guidance of national president, Deve Gowda and chief minister, Kumaraswamy. On the issue of seat sharing, he dismissed the talk of differences on the issue as media creation. "In these things, there are bound to be some minor problems which are not so big or insurmountable," he said.
He agreed that his party has demanded 12 constituencies but it is not stubborn on this number. Noting that there was an understanding that one third of the seats in cabinet and corporations were to be set aside for his party, he felt that this formula can also be applied here.
When questioned why Kumaraswamy said his partymen are not beggars, he clarified that instead of being accommodating, certain district level Congress leaders were speaking unreasonably because of which the chief minister was compelled to say so. On the demand placed by his party on specific constituencies, he refused to give details. "We should own the attitude to sacrifice and accommodate. Our only aim is to defeat BJP that is communal," he clarified. He also felt that the candidates should not be guided by selfish interests or ego.
Vishwanath said he is satisfied with the first round of discussions on seat sharing. "Our people want these two secular powers to come together. Therefore we are holding talks in a free environment," he said. He added that the seat sharing discussions will conclude before March 5 with the publication of the result at a joint press conference to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi and Deve Gowda at New Delhi. He asserted that there is no Modi wave in Karnataka and BJP will be happy if it gets five seats.