Even as resentment continues among JD(S) and Congress cadre over the seat-sharing arrangement in Mandya, Mysuru and Hassan Lok Sabha constituencies, top party leaders will come together again on April 13 in Mandya to send a signal to the workers and leaders to fall in line.
Leaders unhappy with the seat-sharing arrangements in the districts have been warned of serious disciplinary action if their opposition to the candidates chosen continues. The State Congress leadership has been on an overdrive to curb dissent in Mandya and Hassan.
On April 13, a joint rally of Congress national president Rahul Gandhi and JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda has been scheduled in K.R. Nagar, which is in Mysuru district but falls under Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. “K.R. Nagar has been chosen as it abuts the other two crucial constituencies — Hassan and Mysuru — where party cadre are not whole-heatedly supporting the coalition candidates,” a Congress source said.
This is the second joint rally that Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Gowda will hold, following the Parivarthana rally that both parties organised the previous Sunday. Mr. Gandhi, during his speech then, had twice asked Congress leaders and workers to work for JD(S) candidates.
“The bickering leaders in Mandya, including Ramesh Bandisidde Gowda, N. Cheluvarayaswamy and Narendraswamy, have been asked to fall in line and take part in the rally. They have been told that disciplinary action will be initiated against them,” another source said. Mr. Gandhi has told the party leadership in the State that all the incumbent and defeated legislators from the region should be present in the rally.
As part of ramping up logistical support for each other’s candidates, especially in the Cauvery basin districts, Mr. Gowda and former Chief Minister and coalition coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah will be part of election campaigns in the Mysuru region on April 12, a day before the big rally, Congress sources said.
Meeting with Siddaramaiah
On Sunday, while a joint press conference of leaders from both the JD(S) and the Congress was held in Mysuru to send across a message of unity, Mr. Siddaramaiah confabulated with local party leaders from Mandya, including Mr. Cheulvarayaswamy. Sources said he asked the leaders to fall in line or face disciplinary action.
Congress sources said the State leadership was under pressure to find a solution to the problem quickly.
Meanwhile, as part of a trust-building exercise, sources said Food and Civil Supplies Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan has promised to set up a meeting of Congress leaders from Mandya, including Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy, with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. The two were once close but have fallen apart since.