Date:20/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/20/stories/2007052017880400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bypoll: BJP to focus on development schemes

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday declared that it would not campaign against the Janata Dal (S) candidate in the June 2 byelection to the Legislative Assembly from Ullal constituency.

State BJP president D.V. Sadananda Gowda told presspersons here that he had expected the JD(S) to support BJP candidate Chandrashekar Uchil. But the JD(S) fielded Aboobakar Natekar to strengthen its base in the coastal constituency. The party would focus its campaign on development programmes and the schemes announced by Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in the Budget. The party had also decided not to react to any statements made by JD(S) leaders during the campaign, he said.

Mr. Gowda lashed out at Congress leaders for stating that the JD(S) had fielded a candidate to divide the Muslim votes. "The Congress leaders have launched a campaign on communal lines in Ullal and are trying to divide society on the basis of religion." He appealed to the electorate to vote for the BJP candidate to contain what he termed anti-national and underground activities of some organisations in the district.