Janata Dal (Secular) State president and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy dared his party legislators — Zameer Ahmed Khan, Iqbal Ansari and others — to resign from the party and face elections if they “do not have faith in the party’s policy, and make anti-party statements openly”. Addressing a press conference in Deodurg town in Raichur district, before addressing an election rally ahead of the bypolls, Mr. Kumarswamy said the party was built up by “prominent workers” and not “leaders”. He was quick to add that national president and JD(S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda would take suitable action against those who were against the party’s principles “at an appropriate time”. To a question, he said he was not aware of Bhavani Revanna’s contest in the zilla panchayat elections, and he came to know about it only by through media reports.
Investors’ meet
Mr. Kumaraswamy criticised the State government for holding the investors’ meet in Bengaluru, saying that the government had held the meet without creating the right atmosphere, such as providing basic infrastructure, and a long-term vision to help industrial growth.
Mr. Kumaraswamy also said that Union Ministers were “highlighting themselves” on the State government’s money.
He took strong exception to reported statements by PWD Minister H.C. Mahadevappa that the Bharatiya Janata Party and the JD(S) have made an internal agreement for the byelections.
Support in BBMP
He warned that the party would reconsider its decision to continue its support to the Congress in the BBMP Council after verifying the development programmes implemented.
