The Hindu : Karnataka News : Bangarappa alleges BJP, Congress pact in bypoll

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Bangarappa alleges BJP, Congress pact in bypoll

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Buoyant over his victory in the Shimoga Lok Sabha byelection, the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa has alleged that the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party had entered into a last-minute understanding to defeat him.

He has also spoken of the Samajwadi Party, he is heading, emerging as an alternative political force in the State. The people are disgusted with the functioning of the coalition Government and its collapse in the near future, he told presspersons here on Tuesday.

The Samajwadi Party has bright prospects in State politics. The ruling parties — the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) — have conflicting views on various issues and the differences between them would lead to the fall of the Government, he predicted.

Mr. Bangarappa said he would not attempt at toppling the Government as it would fall on its own. "It is a shameful and irresponsible Government. The Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues camped in Shimoga with a sole objective of defeating me," he said.

To a question, Mr. Bangarappa said he would have won the poll by a margin of over one lakh votes but for the he last minute understanding reached between the BJP and the Congress leaders. The electorate of Shimoga has given a befitting reply to his opponents, he added.

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