JD(S) will go it alone in bypolls: Gowda

Bangalore, Aug 24 (UNI) After failing to elicit any response from the Congress on having a poll tie-up to defeat Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), Janata Dal(Secular)JD(S) President H D Deve Gowda here today said his party would contest alone in the coming byelections.

After voting against the United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government at the recent trust vote in the Lok Sabha, former Prime Minister Deve Gowda had urged the Congress for a poll alliance to defeat the seven legislators, who had joined the BJP after defecting from the two parties. But the Congress ignored his appeal.

Three MLAs from Congress -- Anand Asnotikar, J Narasimha Swamy and Jaggesh, and four from the JD(S) Umesh Katti, Balachandra Jarkiholi, Shivanagouda Nayak and Gowrishankar had resigned their seats to join the BJP.

''I sought help from the Congress to defeat these defectors to teach them a right lesson. But Congress has taken it too lightly. We will show our strength and fight the elections alone,'' Mr Gowda said.

The seven legislators had joined the BJP following its 'Operation Lotus' allegedly to lure opposition legislators into the party.

BJP had won 110 seats in the 224-member House and had formed the Government by eliciting the support of six Independents.

The party launched the operation to gain a majority on its own, he added.

UNI RS SIV RL KP2038