Gowda comes to Advani's rescue in Karnataka

Even as candidates continue their campaign for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections, the entire day Tuesday was about the allegations made against senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani.

One of the first to react to the allegation was Janata Dal-Secular chief H D Deve Gowda, the former prime minister.

“Where is Advani and where is Dhananjay Kumar (Karnataka Janata Paksha leader who made the allegations on Monday)? The allegations need to be substantiated and people should not make wild allegations”, Gowda said.

Addressing a press conference at Bangalore on Monday, Kumar had alleged that senior BJP leaders including Advani took money from KJP chief B S Yeddyurappa assuring him that they would let him continue as chief minister of Karnataka.

In North Karnataka, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar sought proof for such allegations.

“Can he prove the allegations? I know what Yeddyurappa has done in the past. He has made allegations against Advani in the past and apologised by evening. I do not find these allegations sustainable,” Shettar said.

Meanwhile, B S Yeddyurappa decided to take Shettar on. “Do you know what he has done in Vidhan Soudha. Is he clean? I know how corrupt he is and how much money he has made for his wife and children,” the influential Lingayat leader said about Shettar.

Dhananjay Kumar, who had made the allegations, spent the day defending his statements. He, however, refused to part with any sort of proof and said that he would do so when the time is right.

“When my leader (Yeddyurappa) asks me to give the proof I shall give it,” he said.

Image: Defending Advani, JD-S chief Deve Gowda (in the image) said that one should not make wild allegations.

Complete Coverage: Battleground Karnataka