Congress, JD(S) conspiring to defeat me: Yeddyurappa

Bangalore, Apr 30 (UNI)Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today alleged that Congress and Janata Dal(JD)(S) have joined hands to defeat him from Shikaripur constituency in the ensuing assembly elections to Karnataka.

Mr Yeddyurappa's reaction came after Congress indicated that it might support Samajwadi Party(SP) candidate and former Chief Minister S Bangarappa, who entered the fray against the BJP leader, by withdrawing its candidate from Shikaripur in Shimoga district.

JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda had yesterday stated that his party would support Mr Bangarappa to defeat the BJP in a mutual understanding with SP.

Speaking in Gulbarga, KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge said his party was thinking of way to defeat the communal parties and it might take a suitable decision about withdrawing its candidate from Shikaripur. ''We will take a decision whether we should withdraw our candidate to defeat Mr Yeddyurappa,'' Mr Kharge added.

Enraged over the all out efforts by the two parties (Congress and JD(S), the BJP leader said in Shikaripur the SP leader had conspired with Congress and JD(S) leaders to defeat him.

He said after BJP had announced that he would be the Chief Ministerial candidate all the other parties had conspired to defeat him and this would not work.

''Let people decide who is better. Me or Mr Bangarappa. Let the SP leader say what is his contribution to the district as well as to the state,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Janardhana Pujari also said his party had decided to defeat Mr Yeddyurappa, who he alleged was turning into 'Karnataka's Modi'. ''We want to save the State from these communal forces. Hence we have to help Mr Bangarappa win,'' he added.

Mr Bangarappa, however, said he was not aware of the Congress offer. ''Congress initially wanted a tie up with us. But nothing happened after this. Come what may, I will be the winner in Shikaripur,'' he added.

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