Siddaramaiah not to join BJP

Mysore, Jun 22 (UNI) Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah scotched rumours that he was planning to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Speaking to mediapersons while touring his Varuna Assembly constituency, he said the BJP policies would not suit him. ''I will go to Bangalore tomorrow, when the Assembly session begins. The rumours that I will shortly join the BJP are totally baseless,'' he said.

Stating that he had not convened a meeting of his supporters, he said many MLAs had called him over phone after seeing media reports to this effect and he had informed them that he would meet them on June 23 in Bangalore.

Mr Siddaramaiah admitted that he was strongly opposed to the Congress-JD(S) tie up in the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. He recalled that the JD(S) had backstabbed the Congress earlier. He was of the opinion that the Congress should fight all elections, including the Lok Sabha elections, on its own.

Earlier, Mr Siddaramaiah gave a patient hearing to the grievances of the people in various villages in the constituency.

UNI BSP GD HS RN1838