Mysuru: Former minister, G T Devegowda of the Janata Dal (S) claimed here on Wednesday that BJP leader, C P Yogeshwar’s comments against Vokkaliga leaders while campaigning had contributed to the defeat of the saffron party’s candidate, A H Vishwanath in the Hunsur byelections.
Speaking to the media in Jayapura in his Chamundeshwari constituency, he said in response to a question on the defeat of the former state president of the JD(S), who was one of the disqualified legislators fielded by the BJP in the bypolls, “Mr C P Yogeshwar who was in charge of the Hunsur byelections, entered the constituency just two days ahead of the elections and began talking derogatorily about Vokkaliga leaders like me, (JDS supremo) H D Deve Gowda, and (former Chief Minister) H D Kumaraswamy. His choice of words angered the people and they voted against Mr Vishwanath. If he ( Yogeshwar) thought he could win votes in Hunsur by distributing sarees and cookers and by giving Rs 5 crore to the Vokkaliga Sangha, he was mistaken.”
On Hunsur Congress candidate, H P Manjunath’s claim that his son, Harish Gowda and his supporters had backed Mr Vishwanath, although he had left the JD(S), Mr Gowda said, “There is no question of me ditching the party. I did not go to Hunsur to campaign or support any party.
I had promised to remain neutral and I did. But Harish is not a member of any party and is free to support anyone he likes. After Yogeshwar’s attack on Vokkaliga leaders, he may have helped the Congress candidate in Hunsur.”
Denying reports that Mr Vishwanath had informed him before resigning from the party, he said he had done no such thing. “He did not tell me he was joining the BJP or would contest elections again,” he added.
On Mr Kumarswamy’s recent criticism of him, he said, “Of late what he says and does have been contrary. His words are upsetting his supporters. He needs to change at least now.”
Reiterating that he was confining himself to the development of his Chamundeshwari constituency , he said all the projects sanctioned for it by the Siddaramaiah government had been completed and those sanctioned under the coalition government were underway.
