Our leaders had understanding with JD(S) in Mandya, says Yogeshwar

MANDYA: Days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah told partymen that there will be no ‘adjustment politics’ in the Old Mysuru region for the upcoming Assembly election, BJP leader C P Yogeshwar himself has revealed that the party in fact had an understanding with the Janata Dal (Secular) in the last election.

Former minister C P Yogeshwar admitted in public that the BJP did indeed have an understanding with the JD(S) in the Old Mysuru region. “Our leaders had got into an understanding with the JD(S) for whatever reason during the last election. So, candidates were put up only for the sake of it as there was a pre-poll understanding. But after the election results were announced, the JD(S) went and aligned with the Congress”, he said.

“But this time, we will put in our best efforts to win the maximum number of seats in Mandya district and the Old Mysuru region. Amit Shah has already given instructions in this regard”, he stressed.

Ministers Gopalaiah and Narayana Gowda, along with Yogeshwar, welcomed local leaders into the party fold.

After the stern directive from the central leadership to fight the elections on its own strength, state BJP leaders have been visiting the seven constituencies in Mandya district on one pretext or the other to strengthen the party. The BJP hopes to win at least 3-4 seats in the region.

In the last election, the party had hardly made any noise. It had put up candidates for the sake of it and did not even work for their win. This had led to the Congress accusing the BJP of having an understanding with the JD(S), which both had, however, denied.