Shivakumar meeting Yeddy for support own decision: CM

 

Bangalore, Aug 11, 2013 (PTI): Asserting that Congress has not sought Karnataka Janata Paksha’s support for Lok Sabha bypolls, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said party leader D K Shivakumar meeting KJP chief B S Yeddyurappa, to seek support for the by-election to Bangalore rural Lok Sabha constituency was his own decision.

 

"DK Shivakumar hasn’t spoken to me on this matter, I have learnt about it through news paper reports;.....we haven’t sought any support, Shivakumar has sought," Siddaramaiah told reporters at Mysore today.

 

However, stating that there is nothing wrong in seeking other parties’ help, the chief minister said "now Yeddyurappa is not with BJP; if Yeddyurappa was with BJP, he wouldn’t have sought support."

 

In a surprise move yesterday, Shivakumar, whose brother DK Suresh is contesting from the Bangalore rural constituency on Congress ticket, met the former chief minister to seek his support.

 

Confirming his meeting with Channapatna MLA C P Yogeshwar of Samajwadi Party, Siddaramaiah said "we have sought support from Yogeshwar, as he is from socialist background."

 

He also clarified that no decision has been taken on inducting Shivakumar in to the cabinet.

 

By-polls are being held for Mandya and Bangalore rural Lok Sabha constituencies on August 21. Former Chief Minister Kumaraswamy’s wife Anitha Kumaraswamy is the JDS candidate from Bangalore Rural.