The BSR Congress, led by B. Sriramulu, has said it is keen to have an alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) ahead of the May 5 Assembly polls and talks were on, even as the latter has said that that it is not interested.
The BSR Congress has also claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), from which Mr. Sriramulu broke away to form his party, was keen on a “merger”, which it had rejected.
Speaking to The Hindu, Raveendra Reshme, general secretary BSR Congress, claimed that BJP leaders had proposed a merger, but Mr. Sriramulu had “out-rightly rejected” it.
He said “talks are progressing in this regard” and the JD(S) and its leaders had a “soft corner” for Mr. Sriramulu. JD(S) leaders had campaigned for Mr. Sriramulu in the byelections held in 2011 and succeeded in getting minority community votes to him, he added.
When contacted, senior JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti admitted that there was a proposal from Mr. Sriramulu on seat adjustment, but said the party had rejected the proposal, considering BSR Congress’ performance in the recently concluded elections to the urban local bodies. “There is no question of striking a pre-poll alliance with any political party,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Reshme clarified there G. Janardhan Reddy will not contest this election. “Our priority is to get him out of prison on bail,” he said.
Star campaigners
When asked about the constituencies chosen for film actors Pooja Gandhi and Rakshita, he said they did not join the party on the condition of contesting in the election. “They are our star campaigners. However, we may ask one of them to contest,” he said.
