In the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023, the Congress has got a big lead before the voting. Here the JDS candidate has suddenly announced his decision to withdraw from the election and has announced to support the Congress.
In a surprise move, B H Mahabari, the JD(S) candidate from Karnataka’s Vijayapura, on Monday announced that he would not contest the elections. He is taking retirement from the election. Not only this, he has extended his full support to Congress candidate Abdul Hameed Mushrif.
JD(S) candidate Bandanwaz Mahabari cited lack of grassroots party workers and organization as the reason behind his decision to announce his retirement from the election race.
Bandanwaz Mahabari said that the JD(S) was “not strong enough” to contest the city constituency, and that it was impossible to stay in the contest in such a poor state.
In a press conference on Sunday, the JDS declared its support for the Congress party’s candidate, announcing Mahabari’s decision not to contest the elections. He said that there is a fight between two national parties, and he has decided to withdraw from the fray thinking that it would be better to retire than to lose badly.
After withdrawing the nomination, Mahabari campaigned in the constituency for 3-4 days. He said he did not find any local presence or support for the JD(S) in the Bijapur City constituency. He said that it would be better for me to announce my retirement from the competition than to lose.
Mahabari said he has been with the JDS family for 40 years and had contested the elections in 2008 but lost by a very narrow margin. He blamed MLA Basbagowda Patil Yatnal for ruining the JD(S) in the constituency. Furthermore, Mahabari denied any pressure and said that he took his decision independently.
Along with this, Bandanwaz Mahabari said that my decision has created an embarrassing situation for the party and the high command. However, I will explain my sudden decision to party leaders H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy.