Questions were raised over the lack of coordination between coalition partners Congress and JD(S) when a joint press conference convened by the two in Mysuru on Saturday was called off at the eleventh hour.

On Friday, mediapersons in the city received an invitation on the letter head of Mysuru Rural District Congress Committee that leaders of Congress and JD(S) would address a joint press conference at a hotel here on Saturday morning. However, the press conference was called off at the eleventh hour with Mysuru Rural District Congress Committee president Vijaykumar messaging mediapersons less than forty five minutes prior to the scheduled time that the meeting had been been put off owing to unspecified reasons.

When asked, Congress leaders were quick to lay the blame squarely on the JD(S). The press conference was to be addressed by Congress leaders H.C. Mahadevappa, Tanveer Sait and Vasu, while the JD(S) was to be represented by Minister for Higher Education G.T. Deve Gowda among others.

“But, Mr. Gowda left for Bengaluru this morning apparently after receiving a call from Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy,” a Congress leader said.

The Congress leaders claimed that the press conference was organised after consulting the JD(S) leaders. Efforts to contact Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda to confirm the same went in vain.

The BJP, meanwhile, convened an emergency press conference an hour later.