JD(S) to meet on Nov 2 to discuss strategy for Dec 5 bypolls

Bengaluru, Oct 28: JDS national president and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has convened a meeting of the party’s state office-bearers on November 2 to decide on candidates for the December 5 by-elections to 15 Assembly seats in Karnataka.

According to party sources, the meeting which would be chaired by Deve Gowda, will be attended by former Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy besides senior party leaders and others.

Preparedness to fight the Assembly bypolls and local bodies, selection of party candidates, are among the other things, which would come for discussion during the meeting, the party sources said.

The meeting assumes importance on the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the 17 disqualified MLAs, which is to be announced in a day or two.

Party’s MPs and MLAs have also been invited to attend the meeting, the party sources said.

Meanwhile, former Chief minister and the JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy, had clarified that his statement on not disturbing the BJP government should not be read as his support to the saffron party.

'Taking into consideration of the distress of the people, who had suffered heavily in the recent floods and heavy rains, it will cause added hardship to the displaced people if Government falls,' he said.

The statement of the JD(S) leader had received sharp criticism form its coalition Congress leaders, and the Congress Legislature Party leader had accused that 'Kumaraswamy seems to be coming closer to the communal forces'.