Mangalore, December 16: BS Yeddyurappa's Karnataka Janatha Party (KJP) is a minor obstacle along with Janatha Dal (Secular) as far as elections is concerned and the primary opponent for the Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) would be the Congress said D V Sadananda Gowda, former Chief Minister.
Addressing media persons at the district BJP office in Mangalore on Sunday, Mr. Gowda said that that Mr. Yeddyurappa's KJP does not pose much of a threat for BJP in the state except for a few areas and so is the case with the JD(S). Congress will continue to remain the party's primary opponent in most parts of the state, he said while adding that Mr. Yeddyurappa's strength is not what he is claiming to be.
“He claimed 60 MLAs are with him but we all saw how many took his side at the Haveri convention. The number has come down to 14. Even among those 14, five of them have come to us and admitted that they want to stay with the BJP and that they had to side with Mr. Yeddyurappa owing to pressure”, Mr. Gowda said.
When asked about the disciplinary action that the BJP promised against Mr. Yeddyurappa's supporters and the recent development of engaging in talks with them again, Mr. Gowda said that show-cause notices would be sent to them but maintained that “political adjustment” is the need of the hour.
Speaking about the BJP's preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections, Mr. Gowda said that five teams are going around the state in all the 30 districts, engaging in discussions with prominent party activists and members in all regions and accumulating their suggestions with regard to the electoral candidates. In Dakshina Kannada district, party activists from each constituency are being consulted, Mr. Gowda said. The teams will submit a report to the state leadership of the party and by January 15, candidates for at least half the number of the total constituencies in the state are likely to be announced, Mr. Gowda said. When asked about his preference in terms of constituency for the Assembly polls, Mr. Gowda said that he had not thought about contesting the elections but would do so if the party asks him to and in which case, he would contest from the Puttur constituency.
The former Chief Minister also said on the occasion that he along with other BJP leaders had met the family members of Jacintha Saldanha this morning and offered their condolences. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has also expressed grief at the incident and has written to the Prime Minister and the Union Minister of External Affairs expressing his concerns over such incidents involving Kannadigas abroad, Mr. Gowda said.
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