National parties reduced to regional level: Bangarappa

Hubli, Dec 22 (UNI) Samajawadi party leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa today observed that the national parties in the country had been reduced to the level of regional parties.

Talking to newsmen after presiding over his party's state executive committee meeting here, he said with these parties ruling in only handful of states, there was not much difference between regional and national parties.

Mr Bangarappa said following the misrule by the Congress, Janata dal(S) and Bharatiya Janata Party in the state, people were showing more interest in Samajawadi Party, which, he claimed, had a very good chance of forming the next government in the state. Replying to a question, he said his party would contest in all 224 assembly constituencies and would have no alliance with any other political party. " Of course, we may adjust some seats with Rajya Ryta Sangh and left parties but I am yet to talk to them", he added.

Predicting that election to the state assembly might be held in the last week of April or in the first week of May, Mr Bangarappa said all the three major parties - the Congress, BJP and JD-S- would get exposed in the election for the mistakes committed by them.

To another question, former chief minister said he did not see any sympathy wave in favour of BJP.

Earlier, the Executive Committee meeting resolved to go to polls in the state under the leadership of Mr Bangarappa. It also resolved, among other things, that the corruption involving mining and land scandals during the tenure of the Congress-JD (S) and BJP coalition governments be handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

UNI