Date:25/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102551990300.htm

Karnataka

BJP will be given a fitting reply in bypoll: Shankar

Correspondent

CHIKMAGALUR: B.L. Shankar, former Chairman of the legislative Council, said on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party-engineered resignation of MLAs posed a threat to the self-respect of the Congress and would be taken as a challenge.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Shankar said that the BJP was responsible for the byelections in the State. Describing “Operation lotus” as a mockery of democracy, he said that the BJP would be given a fitting reply.

Stating that the BJP did not fulfil any of the promises made in its election manifesto, he said that roads in the State were in bad condition.

With regard to the electoral understanding with the Janata Dal (S) for the byelections, he said there were dissenting voices in both parties. However, the common agenda of defeating the BJP had to be achieved, he added.

He stressed the need to develop the road to Mangalore from Mudigere, passing through Byrapura, as traffic was heavy on Charmadi Ghat road, which was in a bad condition.