Bjp Challenges Gowda To Contest Election

The BJP yesterday dared Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda to contest and win a Lok Sabha seat in order to prove his claim that his government was popular among the masses.

The BJPs challenge came in response to Gowda asking the BJP on Tuesday to move a no-confidence motion against his government if the party was so sure that the government had lost the peoples confidence. Gowdas challenge came during his reply to issues raised during discussion on vote of thanks on the Presidents address.

The BJP would not move the no-confidence motion after being provoked by Gowdas statement, BJP vice-president KL Sharma said, adding that such a motion could not be the test of a partys popularity.

The recent by-elections and the Punjab assembly elections results had demonstrated that the United Front government had lost popular support, BJP vice-president KL Sharma said. The Prime Minister lost the assembly seat he represented before coming to the Centre, he pointed out.