JD(S) neither supports Congress nor BJP,says H D Kumaraswamy

JD(S) neither supports Congress nor BJP,says H D Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru: Former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Friday refuted the claim of BJP leader R Ashok that the BJP and JD(S) had an understanding over the by-elections for Gundlupet and Nanjangud.

Speaking to media persons, Kumaraswamy said the JD(S) was neither supporting the BJP nor the Congress in the by-elections to Nanjangud and Gundlupet. The JD(S) would remain neutral, he said.

Congress candidate Kalale Keshavamurthy, who quit JD(S) to contest the by-election as a Congress candidate, had secured 41,000 votes, finishing second in the 2013 Assembly polls. The JD(S) had seven municipal councilors in Nanjangud and they have joined the Congress along with Kalale Keshavamurthy. The JD(S) has decided not to contest the by-election to focus on the 2018 Assembly elections.