In an embarrassment for the ruling coalition in Karnataka, Higher Education Minister GT Devegowda on Wednesday said that JD(S) workers in parts of Mysuru-Kodagu constituency have voted for the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing reporters, he said, “The leaders (Congress and JD(S)) could not resolve the differences between party workers in two months. Maybe if we had started the process earlier, we could have done better.”
Although the alliance was agreed upon by the top brass of both the parties, it was not welcomed by grassroots workers, especially in the Mysuru region that has witnessed decades of rivalry between the Congress and JD(S).
The comment from GT Devegowda, the Mysuru district-in-charge minister, came despite the fact that he held joint rallies with his former prodigy-turned-foe Siddaramaiah as part of the campaign. The two top leaders coming together was to influence workers of both the parties to bury the past and fight unitedly against the BJP.
Notably, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah just a year ago was defeated by GT Devegowda from Chamundeshwari assembly segment.
In Mysuru-Kodagu, the contest is between outgoing MP Pratap Simha of the BJP and Congress-JD(S) candidate CH Vijayashankar. Vijayashankar, a former BJP man was reportedly the choice of former CM SIddaramaiah who had ensured that the seat will be given to Congress as part of the seat-sharing talks.
Reacting to the comment, Vijayshankar told TV9, “I don't want to comment on what GT Devegowda supposedly told the media. He has campaigned for me in Chamundeshwari. We had a joint rally with the Congress and JD(S) in which he has publicly appealed the same. That's what I know.”
He added, “Maybe GT Devegowda has said that JD(S) workers are not 100% working in favour of the coalition in a certain circumstance. There will be a few who will act like this, but this will not affect the result of the election.”
#BIGNEWS: #BJP candidate from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency @mepratap reacts on GT Devegowda's comment, says people of #Mysuru have supported #BJP from the beginning and now the #Congress and JD(S) are also supporting the party. pic.twitter.com/6CvtA8kcft
— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) May 1, 2019