Senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday accused the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular of entering into an under-the-table pact to fight the Karnataka elections.
Naidu, who is campaigning for the party in Karnataka, said at a press conference on Tuesday that the manner in which the two parties have been fielding their candidates is evidence that the Congress and JD-S have an understanding with each other.
Naidu also accused both the Congress and the JD-S of entering into a pact with the Samajwadi Party, which is headed by former chief minister S Bangarappa.
He said that the decision of the JD-S not to field its candidate in Shikaripura is a clear indication of it trying to help the SP candidate, S Bangarappa, who is contesting against B S Yeddyurappa in that constituency. Moreover, the Congress too has fielded a political lightweight in that constituency, he added.
Further, Naidu pointed to a statement made by H D Deve Gowda in which he had said that no party can form a government without the JD-S in Karnataka. Naidu said that this is indication enough to show that there is a secret pact.
H D Deve Gowda had said that Bangarappa is a close friend and had sympathised with him and hence he thought it is best not to field a candidate from the JD-S against him. Congress insiders too maintain that if the SP is ready to truck with them, they would withdraw their candidate from Shikaripura.
Naidu said that no one can stop them from entering into a deal, but the parties should come out in the open and disclose it. It is not right to keep it under wraps, he said.
He cautioned the people of Karnataka against the tactics of the other parties and added that the people should give the BJP a clear mandate.