JD(S) blackmailed our candidate: Pratap Simha

Mysuru: Mysuru Kodagu MP Pratap Simha claimed on Thursday that the  JD(S) had blackmailed and hijacked the BJP  candidate for Ramanagara L Chandrashekar as it feared losing from the constituency in the coming bypoll.

Speaking to reporters here, he said although the BJP had not won in Ramanagar before, there was a fair chance of it winning this time and this had unsettled the JD(S). But on the other hand, Higher Education Minister  G T Devegowda claimed Mr Chandrashekar had decided to turn his back on the BJP as it had not given him any funds or vehicles to help with the campaign. “BJP leaders did not campaign for him either in Ramanagar and so he has joined the Congress. 

This is the predicament of all other BJP candidates too who are contesting the bypolls,” he maintained, contending that the win of CM H.D. Kumaraswamy’s wife Anitha, from Ramanagara was a foregone conclusion  and  Mr Chandrashekar’s presence or otherwise in the constituency would make no difference to her.

Meanwhile, state JD(S) chief, A. H Vishwanath declared that no matter what the result of the bypolls, the Congress- JD(S) alliance would continue for the coming Lok Sabha elections. “ We have already  discussed the seat sharing,” he added.