JD(S) pulls out candidate for Jayanagar seat, supports coalition partner Congress

The Karnataka assembly election was held on May 12 but the Jayanagar poll was countermanded following the death of BJP candidate BN Vijayakumar, who was holding the seat

The Janata Dal Secular on Tuesday pulled out its candidate from the Jayanagar assembly constituency here for the June 11 polls and extended the party’s support to its ruling coalition partner, the Congress.

Newly sworn-in Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy greets Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara after the oath-taking during the swearing-in ceremony of JD(S)-Congress coalition government, in Bengaluru. (PTI File Photo)

JD(S) supremo and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda announced that his party candidate Kalegowda was “retiring” from the contest.

JD(S) would support Congress’ Sowmya Reddy, he said and asked party men and leaders to work for her.

Gowda’s announcement in a release followed a meeting with him by senior Congress leader and former Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who is Sowmya Reddy’s father.

The Karnataka assembly election was held on May 12 but the Jayanagar poll was countermanded following the death of BJP candidate BN Vijayakumar, who was holding the seat.

BJP has named B N Prahlad, brother of Vijaykumar, as its candidate.

Both the Congress and JD(S) had fielded candidates against each other, despite being coalition partners, in the recent election to the Rajarajeshwari Nagar assembly seat in the city.