The former Minister and Congress MLA Tanveer Sait on Friday alleged that pro-Modi slogans raised at a Congress meeting in Channarayapatna of Hassan district were part of a ‘conspiracy’ of the BJP. “Those who raised slogans were not Congress workers,” he claimed.
Speaking to reporters after releasing the Kannada version of Congress Manifesto at the Congress Bhavan here, he refuted discontent in the rank and file of the Congress over the Channarayapatna incident and maintained that “people linked to the BJP attended the meeting who raised the slogans.”
On doubts raised over the JD(S) and Congress following the coalition dharma in the elections, Mr. Sait said the coalition partners entered into a mutual understanding to go together to the polls to defeat the BJP and expressed confidence that they would fight the elections with unanimity while setting aside their ideological differences.
The joint tour of JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the State was a step to motivate the workers to adhere to the coalition dharma and put up a face of unity, he added.
When asked about some Congress leaders supporting Independent candidate Sumalatha in Mandya, he said the party had already expelled such leaders for anti-party activities. The JD(S) should also do so if such incidents occur with regard to supporting our candidates.
Mr. Sait said Mr. Deve Gowda, Mr. Siddaramaiah and other leaders of the Congress and the JD(S) would address a mega public rally in Mysuru on April 9. Almost all leaders, including Minister in-charge of Mysuru district G.T. Deve Gowda, who was apparently placated to support the Congress, will be present.
Dharmasena, MLC; KPCC spokesperson H.A. Venkatesh; Congress district and city presidents B.J. Vijay Kumar and R. Murthy; party spokesperson Aishwarya Mahadev; and others were present.