A crucial meeting of the coordination committee of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition, held on Monday under the chairmanship of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to iron out differences between the allies over seat sharing for the Lok Sabha elections, remained inconclusive.
Though both the JD(S) and the Congress have maintained that sharing of seats will be based on the “winnability” factor, the JD(S) has been demanding 12 seats, including Mandya, Hassan and a few others currently represented by the Congress. However, the Congress is not keen on parting with any more than eight seats. While there seems to be no dispute in the Congress over conceding Hassan seat to the JD(S), Mandya constituency has been a bone of contention as both parties are keen on having their candidate contest from there.
According to sources, the JD(S) put forth its demand at Monday’s meeting with a list of 12 candidates and leaders from the two parties deliberated in detail on them.
This is the second such formal meeting between the two parties over seat sharing. Terming the meeting “cordial” and “fruitful”, leaders of both parties said the parleys were moving in the right direction.
The parties had a formal meeting last week as well and Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief Dinesh Gundu Rao, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, JD(S) State president A.H. Vishwanath, and JD(S) secretary general Danish Ali were in attendance.
On Monday, apart from coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, All-India Congress Committee secretary in-charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal, Mr. Ali, Mr. Gundu Rao, Mr. Parameshwara, and KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre attended.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Siddaramaiah admitted that the JD(S) is asking for 12 seats. “But no decision has been taken. We are discussing everything in detail. It was a cordial discussion regarding every constituency and winnability of candidates. We are moving in the right direction and will soon take a final decision,” he said. “We have not given a final shape to [the shortlist of candidates] yet. Discussions have not been completed, but there is good progress. I hope we will give a final shape to the list in three or four days, before March 10.”
On Nikhil’s candidature
When asked about the JD(S) already hinting that Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of the Chief Minister, would contest from Mandya, Mr. Siddaramaiah retorted: “Can we say no to a candidate who has winnability there? Everything will be sorted out soon.”
Addressing reporters, Mr. Ali said more discussions were required on the matter. “But the final meeting will take place between JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. We have come together with the sole purpose of defeating the BJP and we are gearing up for that,” he said.