Karnataka polls: Rahul Gandhi dubs JD(S) BJP's 'B-team', asks it to come clean on its support to saffron party

Karnataka Assembly election is due in Karnataka by April-May 2018.

Pic courtesy: Twitter/@INCKarnataka

KR Pete: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday asked former prime minister HD Deve Gowda's party Janata Dal (Secular) to come clean on its support to the BJP.

"JD(S), they have to make it clear whether they are the BJP's B team or not. They (JD-S) have to make it clear whether they are supporting the BJP, if yes, why?, he asked at a public meeting in the Vokkaliga belt of the old Mysuru region, considered a JD(S) stronghold.

The Congress president, who is in the fourth round of campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka, is currently touring the old Mysuru region, where the Vokkaliga community has a significant presence. The JD(S) enjoys the support of the Vokkaligas.

Congress President @RahulGandhi's roadshow in Mysuru during the #JanaAashirwadaYatre attracts a sea of supporters and well wishers. pic.twitter.com/vNK2oyQmkg — Congress (@INCIndia) March 25, 2018

Thousands of people gave a traditional welcome to Congress President @RahulGandhi in K.R. Pete of Mandya District. #JanaAashirwadaYatre pic.twitter.com/Ap2eDWK31T — Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 25, 2018

Congress President @RahulGandhi is welcomed by Darshan Puttannaiah, a leader of KRRS (Karnataka farmer's association) in Pandavapura, Mandya. #JanaAashirwadaYatre pic.twitter.com/6et6LI6LLv — Congress (@INCIndia) March 25, 2018

On Saturday too, Rahul had dubbed JD(S) a "B-team" of BJP and had nicknamed JD(S) as "Janata Dal Sangh Parivar.". Taking on the JD(S), he had said 'S' in JD(S) stood for secular, "but in this election, they have got a new name JD(S) - Janata Dal Sangh Parivar."

The Congress chief had further said that the coming Assembly polls was a face-off between two ideologies - on one side BJP and RSS and on the other the Congress.
"In between, there is the third party which is the B team of BJP that is JD(S)," he had said at a public rally in Malavalli in Mandya district, PTI reported.

Rahul had told the gathering, "I will tell you. Let BJP's A team, B team or C team come together. Congress party is going to win this election."

Meanwhile, terming employment generation the "biggest problem" in the country, Rahul on Sunday attacked the BJP-led central government for "not" fulfilling the promises it had made to the people such as job creation and addressing the issue of farmers' distress.

Raising the Nirav Modi issue and alleging that the diamantaire had run away with Rs 22,000 crore, the Congress president questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the matter. "What kind of chowkidari (watchman's job) is Narendra Modi doing," he asked.

Praising the Siddaramaiah government in the state, Rahul said it had worked for the poor, downtrodden and backward communities. He even credited the CM with running a "clean government".

The Assembly election is due in Karnataka by April-May.

(With PTI inputs)