JD8217;s poll wish

The decision was conveyed at a meeting of party president B L Shankar and Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel with legislators and ministers in charge of the district and JD district unit presidents.

JD spokesman P G R Sindhia later told newsmen that the desire of the party leaders and the workers in Kanakapura would be conveyed to Gowda but that did not mean the choice was blocked. Some ministers in the Patel government were also expected to contest, Sindhia said. He appealed to all those JD workers who had joined Ramakrishna Hegde8217;s Lok Shakti before the party decided to go with the BJP, to return to JD 8220;if they had faith in the social justice philosophy8221; of the party. He maintained that the Lok Shakti-BJP alliance would not affect the JD in the elections as, the 8220;traditional voters8221; were still with JD. About Sonia Gandhi8217;s involvement in the elections, another spokesman, K H Srinivas, said there was no need for comment as 8220;we are yet to know how she will associate herself with the election8221;.

He said Sonia had not taken up the leadership of the Congress and instead was being used as publicity material. She was yet to speak on a 8220;burning issue8221; or any political issue for that matter, he pointed out.