Karnataka chief-minister Siddaramaiah has taken a dig at opposition Janata Dal (Secular) by stating that the party was ‘secular’ merely for name’s sake and not for practical purposes.

Former prime-minister H.D. Deve Gowda is the president of Janatal Dal (Secular) which is attempting to queer the pitch ahead of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls.  The ruling Congress is trying its best to retain power while the BJP, headed by its former chief-minister Yediyurappa in the run-up to the polls, is make a strong bit to oust the ruling party.

Elections are to be held in a single phase on 12th May.  Senior leaders of both the BJP and the Congress have been camping in Karnataka for the past few days as the heated campaign heads to a climax in the next couple of weeks.

Speaking to newsmen in Bangalore yesterday, Siddaramaiah said that the Congress was a truly ‘secular’ party which didn’t want to ally with any other party for the polls.  When a scribe asked him what was the harm in allying with Janata Dal (Secular), the chief-minister shot back stating that the party remained secular only in its name and not for practical purposes.