Date:01/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/01/stories/2007040114100400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

JD(U) to seek tie-up with Left parties

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The State unit of the Janata Dal (United) has decided form a forum of like-minded political parties to fight the urban local body elections.

The elections are to be held in May as per the directions of the Karnataka High Court.

State JD(U) president B. Somashekar told presspersons here on Saturday that his party had decided not to forge an electoral allegiance with the Janata Dal (Secular), the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress.

It would approach the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for a possible tie-up.

Mr. Somashekar said that the JD(S), the BJP and the Congress had lost credibility as they had failed to meet the expectations of the people.

Although the High Court had directed the Government to hold the urban local body elections in May, the major parties were not keen on the elections and may even approach the court seeking a postponement of the elections, he claimed.

Referring to the reported statement of L.C. Jain on the tardy implementation of assurances made in the State Budget for 2006-07, Mr. Somashekar said the Government should publish a White Paper on all the projects announced in the 2006-07 budget.