The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, which have been battling differences among its cadre in Ramanagaram Assembly constituency and Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, respectively, seem to have put their trouble behind with the cadre being counselled not to rebel against the party decisions.

The BJP, which has fielded retired commercial tax officer Siddaramaiah from Mandya segment, claimed to have solved differences. Soon after his candidature was announced, several local leaders opposed it and protests were held outside the party office in Mandya. At a meeting convened here on Sunday, local leaders were pacified and they later displayed unity.

Prathap Simha, Mysuru MP, and Mr. Siddaramaiah addressed party leaders and workers and sought support to win the byelection. Mr. Siddaramaiah requested B. Shivalingaiah, who unsuccessfully contested in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, to extend support to him. He also promised to take everyone into confidence to face the electoral battle.

In Ramanagaram

Meanwhile, in Ramanagaram — where local Congress leaders opposed the party’s decision not to field a candidate — it was the turn of Bengaluru Rural MP D.K. Suresh to pacify the workers. Anita Kumaraswamy, wife of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, is the candidate for the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition. Iqbal Hussain, who unsuccessfully contested against Mr. Kumaraswamy, MLC C.M. Lingappa, and some other district Congress leaders had expressed their desire to contest the byelection.

Mr. Suresh spoke to the leaders and told them that any such move would embarrass the party, and the decision to let JD(S) contest from Ramanagaram was taken by the party high command, which had to be respected.

“Internal differences have been sorted out,” Ramanagaram DCC president S. Gangadhar told The Hindu.

Swaraj India

The State executive of Swaraj India met on Sunday and accepted the demand by the Mandya district unit of the party to contest the Lok Sabha bypolls.

D.M. Narasimhamurthy, general secretary, Swaraj India, Karnataka, said two names had been recommended and the central leadership would take a call on Monday. The two are farmers’ leader Nandini Jayaram and Sunita Puttannaiah, wife of deceased leader K.S. Puttannaiah.

In Jamkhandi

The BJP’s decision to field Srikanth Kulkarni, former MLA, from Jamkhandi has upset a section in the party.

Supporters of Basavaraj Sindanuru, an aspirant for the party ticket, held meetings of the zilla panchayat leaders through the day. Sources said BJP State unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa spoke to the leaders and appealed to them not to resort to any measures that would affect the party in the bypolls. He is said to have given an assurance to Mr. Sindanuru. However, the dissidents are yet to announce their decision.

Meanwhile, BJP candidates are expected to file their nomination papers on Monday.