Bengaluru: Former MP VS Ugrappa, during a press conference held at the KPCC office on Queen’s Road in the city, criticized former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy for his political choices, stating that Kumaraswamy had compromised the principles of the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) by forming an alliance with the BJP, a party Ugrappa referred to as “communal.”
Ugrappa accused Kumaraswamy of having no moral values, highlighting that he had joined hands with the BJP despite leading a party that claimed to be secular. He emphasized that while JDS founder Deve Gowda remained committed to his principles, Kumaraswamy had forsaken them for the sake of power.
Regarding the current political landscape in Karnataka, Ugrappa pointed out that both the BJP and JDS were internally divided. He questioned their claims of winning all 28 Lok Sabha constituencies together. Ugrappa also criticized what he saw as misleading tactics during the 2019 elections, alleging that they exploited the Pulwama incident for electoral gains.
With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approximately eight months away, Ugrappa noted the sense of desperation among opposition parties in Karnataka. He highlighted the absence of an opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly, as well as factionalism within the BJP, causing confusion about its leadership. Additionally, he criticized the lack of an opposition leader in the Legislative Council and the absence of a chief whip.
