SHIVAMOGGA: After Congress president

, and chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, it is JD(S) supremo and former PM

’s turn to claim he is a “proud Hindu” who respects all religions. His statement, coming just a few days ahead of byelections in the state, is seen as a bid to seek both Hindu and minority votes, especially in Shivamogga.

Gowda also said, “This

will be the gamechanger for national politics. By winning all five seats, we will send a clear message to the BJP that secularism is alive.”

At a joint press conference with senior Congress leader Kagodu Thimmappa in Shivamogga on Tuesday, the JD(S) supremo said this is an important election which will undoubtedly influence the parliamentary election.

“JD(S) will extend support to coalition partner Congress, to make Congress president Rahul Gandhi prime minister. I do not comment on the Election Commission, because the officials are constitutionally correct. The Karnataka government is the best example of secularism. I am also a

, but love all religions and communities, while the BJP and RSS version of Hinduism is different. The coalition government in Karnataka marks a transition in Indian politics,” he stated.

With both the BJP and JD(S) taking the name of former CM Bangarappa during the election campaign to seek votes from the Idiga community, Deve Gowda said the BJP has no moral right to claim Bangarappa’s legacy.

“It is because of Bangarappa that the BJP emerged in Karnataka and won more than 70 seats. Madhu Bangarappa is not a new face. He was also active in politics in the past few decades. Kumar Bangarappa’s statements are baseless and there is no rift among party workers. They will go with Congress workers,” he said.

Meanwhile, a meeting was organised at Gayathri Mangalya Mandira, in which Congress and JD(S) leaders participated. Addressing party workers, senior Congress leader Kagodu Thimmappa said he was very thankful to Deve Gowda for fielding Madhu Bangarappa. “We will teach the anti-democracy BJP and B S Yeddyurappa a lesson,” he said, and asked party workers to join hands with the JD(S) to campaign.

At a meeting, Congress and JD(S) candidate Madhu Bangarappa said that BS Yeddyurappa and his son Raghavendra has wasted nine-and-ahalf years, but for him, four months was enough to show his work. “Kagodu Thimmappa is like my father, always thinking of my political career and treating me like his son. Congress leaders like DK Shivakumar and Dinesh Gundurao support me. I am very confident of winning the election,” he said.