DAVANGERE, Apr 18 : In what could be described as a dramatic development, the Janata Dal (Secular) has decided to give external support to the Congress in the coming Lok Sabha elections in Davangere and its candidate Kallerudreshi will retire from the contest.
The Janata Dal (S) took this decision to ensure that the “secular vote” did not get divided. This decision was taken at the instance of party president H.D. Deve Gowda.
Janata Dal (S) Davangere district unit president H.S. Shivashankar told presspersons here on Thursday that in the last elections, although the party candidate was relegated to third position, he took a major chunk of secular votes which helped the BJP to win the elections easily. This time, the Janata Dal (S) wanted to ensure that all secular votes be consolidated and be given to the Congress so that a non-communal party would win the Lok Sabha elections.
Shivashankar said the Janata Dal (S) had examined all factors and realised that the BJP would benefit if the Janata Dal (S) remained in the fray.
This decision to support the Congress was only for this elections, he clarified. The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have extended their support to the Janata Dal (S) in Davangere. The activists of the two Left parties had been working with the Janata Dal (S) candidate all these days. It would be interesting to see what stand the Left parties take now.
Late Pampapathy, a Communist leader, was elected Davangere MLA for three times and Communist parties were very strong till a few years ago.
H.K. Ramachandrappa, communist leader, told that he was surprised by the sudden decision of the Janata Dal (S) and the Left parties would take a decision in a day or two whether to remain neutral.