Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Nov 28: It is learnt that the Congress and the JDS have finalized an alliance for the legislative council elections. Out of the 25 seats for which elections will be held, the Congress party has agreed to concede eight seats to the JDS.

There is no problem as far as five of the eight constituencies agreed upon, are concerned. But, the talks were deadlocked on setting aside the other three seats. As such, the discussions were postponed to Saturday November 28, for sorting out this issue.

State president of the JDS, H D Kumaraswami, who flew into the city two days back, to hold consultations with the state leaders on the issue, went back to New Delhi, where he has been engaged in a discussion with the Congress leaders.  It is learnt, that the three seats on which both the parties are laying claims are, Bangalore Rural, Raichur and Chikmagalur. JDS sources said that the adamant attitude of the Congress on these constituencies has caused the stalemate.

The JDS is of the opinion, that if the Congress Party fails to concur on these seats, it is prepared for a friendly fight, limiting the understanding to just five seats. The fact that the JDS is not agreeable for any other seats in exchange for the said three seats has created problems for the Congress Party.  The Congress, which was initially reluctant to come to the negotiating table, showed interest for an alliance, after the JDS told it that if it wants to defeat the BJP, the other two parties in the state have to come together. It is hoped that the alliance now struck, will also come in handy for the election to the Rajya Sabha, slated to be held shortly.

If the imbroglio is not sorted out, the above three seats may be shunted out of the ambit of the present alliance. In the meantime, signals from the Congress Party indicated that opposition leader in the legislative council, V S Ugrappa, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress President, R V Deshpande, may not enter the fray for the council elections this time, although they are set to retire on January 5.