JD(U), JD(S) unite for civic polls

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JAN. 10. The Janata Dal (United) and the Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday entered into an understanding to unitedly contest the elections to the local bodies, which were recently postponed.

The President of the State unit of the JD(U), Mr. C. Byre Gowda, and the President of the JD(S) and former Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Siddaramaiah, who on Wednesday commenced formal discussions for a merger of the two parties, told The Hindu that the two parties would share seats in the elections and that the selected candidates would contest on the symbols of their respective party. The leaders of both the parties would jointly campaign for the candidates, they added.

They said that fielding a common candidate against the Congress(I) and the BJP was the need of the hour. Following the electoral understanding, there was hope that the JD would score over the other two parties in the municipal elections, they added.

The formal meeting to discuss the merger of the parties was held at the residence of the former Chief Minister, J.H. Patel, as a matter of sentiment, since it was Patel who had expressed a desire for uniting the JD(U) and the JD(S). Mr. Siddaramaiah was assisted in the discussions by Mr. D.T. Jayakumar, while Mr. Byre Gowda was assisted by Mr. M.P. Prakash, Mr. A.B. Patil, Mr. Hampanna Gowda, Mr. K.N. Nage Gowda and others. The meeting lasted nearly two hours. Mr. Trishul Pani and Mr. Mahima Patel, Patel's sons, were also present.

Mr. Byre Gowda hoped that the discussions would be fruitful and that the leaders would be successful in satisfying the demands of the workers of the two parties.

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Section  : Southern States
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