Confusion over consensus candidate clears; JD(S) to take on Cong

Bangalore, Nov 14 (UNI) Ending confusion over fielding a common candidate of the coalition partners in Karnataka for the Chamundeshwari Assembly byelection, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to support the Janata Dal (Secular) nominee to take on Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Announcing this to newspersons here today along with Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and BJP State President D V Sadananda Gowda, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the BJP had decided to extend ''unconditional'' support to JD(S) to fight Mr Siddaramaiah, who is seeking re-election from the seat after resigning it prior to joining the Congress.

He said the decision to field a consensus candidate was taken at the Coordination Committee meeting of the two parties. The name of the candidate would be announced on November 16 and both the parties would take up electioneering work jointly to ensure electoral success. The parties would hit the campaign trail with the achievements of the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government.

Describing the decision as a ''new experiment in State politics'', Mr Kumaraswamy said that with this, all rumours about the stability of the coalition Government had been put to rest.

''There are difference between the two parties on many issues, but there is no dearth of faith and experience in providing good governance and the Government will complete its term.'' Exuding confidence that the party nominee would win the election, he, however, said the verdict would not be a referendum on the ten-month-old Government in the State.

Mr Yediyurappa, who was earlier vocal in fielding a party candidate, defended the decision, stating that it was taken in the interest of continuing the good governance of the Government.

Mr Gowda said the decision was taken at the instance of the party's central leaders. The rank and file of the party workers were in favour of fielding their own candidate, but in the interest of the coalition Government it was decided to support the JD(S).

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