Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Monday countered former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s claim of “conscience votes” of legislators from other parties to facilitate victory of both the candidates fielded by the Congress party in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. .
Speaking to reporters after arriving at the Mysore airport on Monday, Mr Kumaraswamy said the Congress cannot be the sole contender for the “vote of conscience”. He said the results of the Rajya Sabha elections to be held on June 10 will give an answer to the Congress leader’s claim.
The party got 32 votes in the election. “We will make up for the shortfall,” he said, adding that the party would not conduct any kind of political “operation”.
On this occasion, Mr. Kumaraswamy also clarified that party MLA G.T. Deve Gowda will vote in favor of the JD(S) candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. Mr Gowda, who was dissatisfied with the party leadership, has made no secret of his plans to quit the JD(S) before the next assembly elections.
Mr Kumaraswamy also pointed out that it was not the Congress alone which did not field a candidate against former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda during the previous elections to the Rajya Sabha. He claimed that the BJP had also not fielded a candidate.
Mr. Kumaraswamy arrived in Mysore on Monday to campaign for the party’s candidate in the upcoming Legislative Council elections from HK Ramu, the southern graduate constituency.