I have campaigned 'silently' for BJP: Former DGP

Bangalore, May 15 (UNI) Former DGP and BJP MP from Bangalore North H T Sangliana today said that he had been involved actively campaigning for the saffron party albeit 'silently'.

The super cop, who had defeated former Railway Minister and senior Congress leader Jaffar Sharief, was reported to have been 'disenchanted' with the party over its 'communal leanings' and had stayed away from the campaigning.

However he denied the reports and said, "I have campaigned silently for the BJP. I have steadfastly worked to improve the living conditions of the poor in my constituency for the past four years. Is this not a campaign for my party," he asked.

Mr Sangliana, the retired Karnataka cadre IPS official hailing from Mizoram, said he had to stay back in Delhi during the electioneering in the state as he had to receive replies from government on various subjects he had raised in the parliament.

He said he was not averse to campaign for BJP in the third phase for which election is due on May 22. "Wherever possible I will go and campaign for the party," he said.

He answered in affirmative when asked whether he would contest again from BJP in the 2009 general elections. "If the party and people of my constituency want me to contest next time I will certainly do it," he added.

He said he felt sad in seeing several candidates having criminal past entering the fray in the Karnataka Assembly elections. "I am pained to see such candidates are given tickets in BJP. It is not only my party but almost all parties have done it.

"Winnability has been the main factor for choosing the candidates and ethics, honesty and integrity has taken a back seat. But who can stop this, I wonder," he added.

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