BJP President denies alliance with J(D)S in Ullal bypoll

Bangalore, May 19 (UNI) Exuding confidence in winning the Ullal Assembly seat in the June 2 by-election, BJP state President D V Sadananda Gowda today denied reports that his party had struck 'strategic alliance' with the coalition partner Janata Dal (Secular), to keep away Congress from victory.

Speaking to newspersons here, he said there was nothing wrong if JD(S) chose to field its candidate in the by-election, following the death of Congress member U T Farid recently.

However, the BJP leadership expected that the JD(S) would reciprocate the party's gesture of not fielding candidate in the by-election to the Chamundeswari Assembly constituency, he added.

There was no threat to the coalition set up following this development, he added.

He said the party would win on its own in the by-election as the constituency was a stronghold of BJP from the very beginning.

Besides, the voters had also felt the need for reflecting nationality in the coastal region, following increased underworld activities, he added.

He alleged that the Congress was a ''divided house'' in the district and the candidate had imposed himself on the party as its nominee. He urged the voters to be wary of leaders intimidating voters on caste lines.

UNI