BJP common enemy, say K’taka Cong, JDS leaders

BENGALURU: Terming the BJP as a "common enemy", the ruling Congress and JD(S) coalition in Karnataka Saturday said their alliance in the state was a message to secular parties across the country to unite to defeat "communal forces" in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Projecting the unity between both the parties ahead of the November 3 bypolls to three Lok Sabha and two assembly seats in the state, Congress and JD(S) leaders appealed to partymen, who had fought bitterly against each other ahead of May 12 assembly polls, to work unitedly to defeat the BJP.

"Our aim is to strengthen the roots of secular system in the state and the country, and thereby get rid of the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre which is the cause for several issues in this country," JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda said.

Addressing a joint press meet organised by the coalition partners, he said, "This is just the preface. We will together win this by-elections. Though we have fought against each other in the past, we will fight together now to defeat communal forces and the system that intends to divide our society."

The press conference was attended by CM H D Kumaraswamy, former CM Siddaramaiah, state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara.

Bypolls for three Lok Sabha constituencies - Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya - and two assembly constituencies - Ramanagara and Jamkhandi - will take place on November 3. Counting of votes will be on November 6.