Bengaluru/Mysuru: JD(S) general secretary Danish Ali on Thursday threatened to quit the party if denied a ticket for next month’s polls to Rajya Sabha even as top leaders are set to field real estate baron Farooq, brother of Congress legislator Mohiuddin Bava, as part of their strategy to win over minorities.
Mr Danish Ali, who met state unit president H D Kumaraswamy and requested him for the party ticket, later told the media that he was promised one last time but the party backed Mr Vijay Mallya. He said he would quit the party if meted same treatment this time. Meanwhile, plans of JD (S) leaders to win at least one Rajya Sabha seat with the help of independents, hit a roadblock with the entry of retired IPS officer K C Ramamurthy as the third candidate of ruling Congress.
In a swift development since Wednesday, at least 10 of the 12 independents, who had earlier agreed to back JD(S) candidate Mr Farooq, are having second thoughts over their stand. Besides, five rebel candidates of JD (S) are non committal about supporting their party candidate, leading Mr Kumaraswamy with no choice but to wait and watch till May 29 rather than announce his party’s nominee. He was also trying to hold his flock together and negotiate once again with independent MLAs to get the support of at least eight members. He was also trying to convince three of the five rebel MLAs of his party- Mr Cheluvarayaswamy, Mr Balakrishna and Mr Akhanda Srinivasmurthy. All five rebels abstained from the legislature party meeting held today. In a surprise move, leaders of Congress, who initially planned to field only two candidates, toyed with the idea of fielding the third candidate as well. The first choice was realtor Mr Irfan Razak. Later, energy minister D K Shivakumar suggested the name of Mr Ramamurthy. The Congress leaders tapped independent MLAs as well as rebel JD(S) MLAs and are in the process of finalising the candidate.
The JD (S) legislature party empowered party president Mr Deve Gowda and his son Mr Kumaraswamy to take a decision on candidates to be fielded for Rajya Sabha as well as Legislative Council elections.
HD Deve Gowda: BJP playing a ‘neutral role’
Janata Dal (S) supremo and former Prime Minister Mr H.D. Deve Gowda remarked that the official Opposition party in the State (BJP) has been playing a ‘neutral role’ while the media was playing the role of opposition party.
He was replying to mediapersons here on Thursday when asked about allegations of corruption against minister Baburao Chinchansur. He also declined to react to questions on the functioning and achievements of the NDA government at the Centre which completed two years in office on Thursday.
He also made it clear that he and several JD(S) MLAs had to attend weddings and they may get delayed for the party meeting scheduled to happen in Bengaluru on Thursday. “The media need not attribute any special meaning to the absence of leaders,” Mr Gowda said.
