Deve Gowda to campaign for JD(S) in Ullal bypoll

Bangalore, May 16: The Janata Dal(S) today defended its decision to field a candidate for the June two by-poll for Ullal Assembly seat stating that it aimed to retain the party's identity in the constituency.

JD(S) spokeperson Y S V Datta said that it was a collective decision of party leaders who felt that the bypoll had provided an opportunity to prove its base among minority was still in tact. Replying to a question, he however maintained that the contest with coalition partner BJP would in no way affect the government.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of the sitting Congress member U T Fareed last month.

The BJP was expecting poll understanding with its partner JD(S) with a hope that it would not field its candidate. However, the BJP leadership was yet to react on its partner's decision to field its candidate.

With the filing of nomination from JD(S) candidate Aboobakar Natekkar Ullal on the last day for filing of nomination papers today the bypoll would witness a triangular contest between Congress, BJP and the JD(S). Apart from three parties, the CPI(M) has also fielded its candidate Balakrishna Shetty in fray.

While the Congress has named U T Khader, son of U T Fareed, Bharatiya Janata Party has reposed faith in the defeated candidate Chandrashekhar Uchil, who finished second during 2004 assembly elections.

UNI