Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru (MS)
Mysuru, Feb 28: While political parties continue to spar over the Congress-JD(S) alliance for the mayoral election of Mysuru city corporation, JD(S) MLA Sa Ra Mahesh has given full details of the events that took place on the eve of the election day.
Addressing a press meet here, he said, "We were sure of that we would win the mayoral election on our own. We decided to maintain equidistance from Congress and BJP. Later we got a message from Congress leader Tanveer Sait at 12.41 am. In his message he wrote that G T Devegowda and Sandesh Nagaraj had spoken to BJP and they would not attend the election. He sent one more message that Pallavi of BSP was also supporting BJP. Then he messaged that around 11 am the next day BJP would have its first mayor in the city, and that we should not allow it to happen.
"Tanveer Sait gave an offer to us to keep the mayor post and give them (Congress) deputy mayor. KPCC president D K Shivakumar called at 11.30 am. I gave my phone to Kumaraswamy. Shivakumar asked for mayor post even then. We asked the location of two of our MLAs at 11.41 am. We came to know that G T Devegowda and Sandesh Nagaraj had not turned up. It was decided that we would keep the mayor post and give the deputy mayor post to Congress. This happened at 11.49 am on the election day. None of these deceisions were planned beforehand," he said.
On Congress leader Siddaramaiah's criticism of D K Shivakumar's decision, he said, "Siddaramaiah is responsible for the confusion in the Mysuru mayor post election alliance between JD(S) and Congress. We have shown the power of JD(S) to Siddaramiah is his own native district. Do not consider the regional party in which you have grown in a light manner. If G T Devegowda and Sandesh Nagaraj had attended the election, we would not have got into alliance with Congress. We would have contested independently. These things are decided on the spot. But according to our promise, we will give mayor post to Congress in future for one term.
"We will give mayor position to Congress next time. Whether they ask for it or not, mayor position is guaranteed for them. But there should be hold on their tongue. Mayor position will be given to Congress without any drama or chaos. We would have given this time itself had they not spoken in an insulting manner. We just fielded our candidate to show our strength. We will get into alliance next time also if they do not speak lowly about JD(S)."
Sa Ra Mahesh openly invited Tanveer Sait to JD(S). "If Tanveer Sait has issues in Congress, JD(S) will welcome him. We have not put fire in any political party. All decisions are taken then and there. If Tanveer Sait faces problems due to this alliance, let him join JD(S). Abdullah, who contested against Tanveer will welcome him. Giving ticket to him can be decided later. We respect a minority leader," he said.
Speaking on the issue of suspending G T Devegowda and Sandesh Nagaraj from the party, Sa Ra Mahesh said, "Top leaders of the party will decide as per the suggestion given by president of distict unit of the party. I am a common worker. I do not have anything to suggest in this. Let them suspend anyone or keep. I will work honestly for the party. G T Devegowda and Sandesh are not responsible for all the developments of Mysuru Mayoral election. But they are responsible for our party candidate not winning independetly. So let us see what the national president of the party, who has seen all the developments, will decide."