MYSORE: Rejecting the mounting pressure on him to withdraw from the fray for the byelection to the Assembly from Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysore, former MLA and JD(U) candidate A.S. Guruswamy said he is firm on contesting the bypoll "come what may".

Speaking to The Hindu on Sunday evening, Mr. Guruswamy dismissed the speculations about his withdrawal of nomination in favour of Janata Dal (Secular) candidate Shivabasappa. "I will contest the bypoll at all costs," Mr. Guruswamy said.

The JD(S) leadership had expressed hope that they would convince Mr. Guruswamy to opt out of the race before the deadline for withdrawal of nominations at 3 p.m. on Monday.

Mr. Guruswamy admitted that JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda had telephoned him and requested him to strengthen the party's prospects in the bypoll by withdrawing from the fray. "He told me that the going will be tough for the JD(S) if I remain in fray," Mr. Guruswamy said. Mr. Guruswamy said he could ill-afford to opt out of the electoral race. "It is a question of my political survival. I have to be in touch with the people. I cannot do without contesting the election," he said.

JD(U) in favour

Contrary to speculations in a section of the media that Mr. Deve Gowda had got in touch with national leaders of JD(U) leaders such as Sharad Yadav to prevail upon Mr. Guruswamy to withdraw from the fray, the former MLA and JD(U) candidate said all national leaders of the JD(U) were in favour of him contesting the bypoll.

"JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, George Fernandes as well as B. Somashekar are in touch with me. They are of the opinion that I should contest the election to give JD(U) a base in Karnataka," Mr. Guruswamy said.

It may be mentioned here that Mr. Guruswamy, who quit the JD(S) and filed his nomination papers for the bypoll as a JD(U) candidate after he was denied JD(S) ticket, belongs to Lingayat community as Mr. Shivabasappa, the JD(S) candidate. JD(S) leaders admit that Mr. Guruswamy's presence would affect the prospects of the party in the crucial byelection.

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