JD(S) Withdraws Support From Joint Padayatra With BJP Against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah—All About It

Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy has given a jolt to Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit by withdrawing his party's support to a joint padayatra by stating that BJP has insulted and ill treated him.

The padayatra was launched by BJP along with JD(S) against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led Congress regime's alleged corruption in the state.

The yatra was set to commence on 3 August and was supposed to traverse through Bengaluru to Mysuru.

"Are you going to call Preetham Gowda in a meeting and ask me to to attend it as well? Do you know who shared the pen drive?" said Kumaraswamy.

In Delhi, he stated that the core committee members led by G T Deve Gowda have taken a decision that JD(S) won't participate in BJP led padayatra as per a report by Kannadaprabha.

Kumaraswamy continued, "There is a possibility of criticism from people. With this background we withdrew from the yatra. What are the benefits of yatra? A legal battle is important. Politics is not important to us. We don't even give moral support and why should we give support when we are not taken into confidence. We have power from Bengaluru to Mysuru."

Kumaraswamy specifically directed his anger towards Pritam Gowda, the former BJP MLA from Hassan.

Accusing Pritam of attempting to destroy his family, Kumaraswamy questioned the BJP's decision to include him in their meetings.

"Who is Pritam Gowda? The identity of the person who shared the pen drive is known. He poisons Deve Gowda's family. How can I sit on the stage with them?" Kumaraswamy fumed.

The pen drive in question is rumoured to contain sensitive information that could potentially harm the JD(S) leadership.