With candidates not too keen on contesting the byelections to the Lok Sabha on November 3 — particularly in Ballari and Shivamogga — the Congress is likely to finalise its candidates for the constituencies after party president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Bengaluru on Saturday.
Senior leaders of the party are expected to hold talks with Mr. Gandhi on Saturday and announce the candidates for the two constituencies. With just six months left for the present Lok Sabha, there are not many ticket aspirants in the Congress.
To meet HAL staff
Mr. Gandhi is visiting the city to hold an interaction with employees of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) on the Rafale controversy. The Congress has accused the Modi government of violating the defence procurement procedure and bypassing the interests of the PSU.
With regard to Ballari, the Congress is finding the going tough in selection of candidates, with four of the six party legislators not turning up for a meeting on Wednesday. MLAs Anand Singh, P.T. Parameshwara Naik, Bheema Naik, and G.N. Ganesh did not attend the meeting. The leaders have decided to meet again on Thursday.
In Shivamogga constituency too, leaders are not showing interest in contesting against B.Y. Raghavendra, son of the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. The last day for filing nominations is October 16.
In JD(S)
Following discontent in a section of rank and file of the Janata Dal (Secular) over the selection of Anitha Kumaraswamy, wife of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, as candidate for the Ramanagaram Assembly constituency, party’s national president H.D. Deve Gowda held a meeting of constituency leaders on Tuesday to sort out differences and ensure victory of his daughter-in-law.
District leaders of the JD(S) are reportedly upset as the party was treating Ramanagaram as the fiefdom of “one family”. There is no opportunity for party workers to grow politically in the district, they alleged.
Cabinet expansion put off again
The much-awaited expansion of the State Cabinet will be held only after the byelections to the Lok Sabha from three constituencies and to the Legislative Assembly from two segments on November 3, sources in the Congress said.
Postponement of the Cabinet expansion, however, has not gone down well with several Congress legislators.
My grandsons will not contest from Mandya: Gowda
JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda on Wednesday said his grandsons would not be contesting from the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. He said a local leader of the Mandya district would be fielded.
Mr. Gowda told reporters at Tamba village in Indi taluk of Vijayapura that Mr. Kumaraswamy was still in touch with the former MLA Madhu Bangarappa to convince him to contest from the Shivamogga constituency. If Mr. Bangarappa refuses to contest, then the JD(S) would extend support the Congress candidate, he said.
“I would like to put an end to the speculation on which of the family members is going to contest from Mandya. The party will identify a local leader to contest,” he said.