Chandre Gowda, Nirani told to stop working for merger - KARNATAKA

Reaffirming his party stand that the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) will not merge with the BJP or any other party, KJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa has asked MP D.B. Chandre Gowda and the former Minister Murgesh Nirani not to take a lead in clinching a merger with the BJP.

“My party’s stand is very clear that in no case we will merge with the BJP. I want Mr. Nirani and Mr. Chandre Gowda to stop making any such efforts as their efforts will not yield any result,” he told a press conference here on Sunday.

Referring to the Lok Sabha polls, the former Chief Minister said that his party would field candidates in at least a dozen places. However, a decision on having a political tie-up for the remaining seats would be taken in the coming days.

The party was not averse to a pre-poll alliance with any party, including the Janata Dal(S). However, a decision would be taken only if it is in the interests of the party, he said.

To a question, he said that the party was not fielding any candidate in the byelections to the two Lok Sabha seats, Bangalore Rural and Mandya, in the State. Mr. Yeddyurappa, however, said his party’s support to any candidate would be based on the views of the party workers. He said he was on State-wide tour to strengthen his party. He added that he has launched efforts to replace office-bearers and district unit presidents to give a fillip to the party.

“As part of this, I have decided to appoint the former MLA Vittal Katakonda as the new president of the Bijapur unit in place of Kashinath Mashibnal,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said.

Party leader Shobha Karandlaje and Mr. Katakonda were present.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/chandre-gowda-nirani-told-to-stop-working-for-merger/article4989073.ece