JD(S) defends putting up candidate in Ullal by-poll

Bangalore, May 16 (UNI) The Janata Dal(S) today justified its decision to field a candidate for the June two by-poll for Ullal Assembly seat with a view to retaining the party's identity in the constituency.

Talking to UNI, JD(S) spokesperson Y S V Datta said it was a collective decision taken by the party leaders, who felt that the by-poll had provided an opportunity to test the party's base among the minorities. He, however, maintained that the contest with coalition partner BJP would not affect the government.

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

The BJP leadership was yet to react on the decision of the JD(S) to field its candidate.

With the filing of nomination papers by JD(S) candidate Aboobakar Natekkar Ullal on the last day today, the by-poll would witness a triangular contest between the Congress, BJP and the JD(S). The CPI(M) has also fielded Balakrishna Shetty as the party candidate.

While the Congress has named U T Khader, son of U T Fareed as its candidate, BJP has once again nominated Chandrasekhar Uchil, who was defeated in the 2004 assembly polls.

UNI