Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 22: Former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda, has alleged that candidates fielded by his party from Hirekerur and Athani constituencies were pressurised by the BJP leaders to withdraw their nominations. He therefore said that his party is considering the suitability of extending support to two persons who are fighting election in these constituencies as independents after failing to get JD(S) tickets.

Speaking at a press meet here on Thursday November 21, Deve Gowda claimed that JD(S) candidates from these two constituencies were forced to withdraw from the fray by applying various kinds of pressures on them. "In Hirekerur, MP B Y Raghavendra, who happens to be the son of the chief minister, accompanied by his party's official candidate, went to our candidate and made him to withdraw his nomination. In Athani, JD(S) candidate was taken to Hyderabad where he was pressurized to withdraw from the fray," he claimed. He pointedly asked the BJP whether these acts depict good culture.

Deve Gowda stated that a poster that was displayed in front of the JD(S) candidate's residence at Mahalaxmi Layout in the city has been torn off. He termed as rubbish the hue and cry being raised in K R Pet where it is being alleged that JD(S) workers threw footwear at BJP leaders.

"We have fielded our candidates in 13 constituencies and extended support to independent candidate Sharat Bache Gowda in Hoskote. We will fight the election with our full might in all the constituencies. We treat both the Congress and the BJP as our equal rivals," he stated.