The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘JD(S) not backing Congress candidates’

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Saturday, Apr 18, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘JD(S) not backing Congress candidates’

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Leaders of the Third Front in Karnataka — H.D. Deve Gowda, V.J.K. Nair and Siddanagouda Patil — have categorically said that the Janata Dal (Secular) and the two Left parties will not be supporting candidates of the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party in constituencies where they have not fielded candidates.

Mr. Gowda told presspersons here on Friday that the Third Front had fielded candidates in 23 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. While the JD(S) has fielded candidates in 21 constituencies, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has fielded a candidate in Dakshina Kannada and the Communist Party of India has fielded a candidate in Udupi-Chikmagalur.

Two withdraw

Two of the JD(S) candidates, in Dharwad and Bagalkot, have withdrawn and the party candidate in Davangere has retired from the contest. This has resulted in reports that the JD(S) is extending support to the Congress in constituencies where it has not fielded candidates or where candidates have withdrawn from the contest.

The party has clarified that in constituencies where it is not contesting, party activists will extend support to a candidate other than that of the Congress or the BJP.

Attacks Manmohan

Replying to a query on prime ministerial aspirants, the former Prime Minister joined the other Third Front leaders in attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying he had lowered the dignity of the post and consequently should not aspire to it. “Manmohan Singh has lowered the dignity of the Prime Minister’s chair. With the kind of accusations being made against the Prime Minister in the country, he should give up the desire to become the Prime Minister again,” Mr. Gowda said.

He also said he was not in the race for the post of Prime Minister should the Third front form the next government at the Centre.

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