Ibrahim expects 123 seats for JD(S)

Dharwad: The Janata Dal(S) expects to take advantage of the dissatisfaction among Lingayats towards the BJP after BS Yeddiyurappa was made to quit as chief minister.
The party plans to field as many Lingayat candidates as possible in the coming assembly elections.
JD(S) state president CM Ibrahim, while making these points clear, expressed confidence that Muslims too will vote for the JD(S) as they were disappointed with the Congress for treating them as a mere vote bank. “The JD(S) will win 123 seats and form the government on its own,” he said.
On Monday, he said both the BJP and Congress have failed as the ruling party and Opposition party, respectively, and the people wanted an alternative. “Just wait and watch,” Ibrahim said.
“I have been in the Congress and know very well how the leaders sabotage the chances of each other. Their internal bickering and the BJP’s failure to provide good governance will be advantageous for the JD(S),” he said.
He hinted at JD(S) supporting Bhaskar Rao, who will be contesting as an AAP candidate from Basavanagudi.
“Though we call our party as Janata Dal (Secular) it is an open secret that the elections are fought on caste lines and not issues. To implement our agenda, we need power and we will adopt strategies to win elections,” he added.
“A combination of Lingayats and Muslims in favour of JD(S) in north Karnatak will fetch JD(S) 105 seats while in the Old Mysuru region, if Vokkaligas and Muslims combine to support us we will get 55 seats. We are fielding Kuruba candidates where they constitute a major chunk of the electorate. They are unhappy with Siddaramaiah. We are fielding 18 prominent Kuruba candidates,” Ibrahim said.
When asked whether the JD(S) will follow the politics of convenience and join hands with either the Congress or the BJP to form the government in case of a hung House, Ibrahim exuded confidence that the JD(S) will form the government on its own. He, however, did not rule out tying up with the Congress to form the government. “The Congress will offer to support us in such an event,” he said, and added that at no cost would the JD(S) go with the BJP.
The JD(S) has promised that if elected to power it will focus on health, education, housing, agriculture and infrastructure development, among other issues.