Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Nov 30: December 1 is the last date for filing of nominations for the 25 seats in the state legislative council, set to fall vacant on January 5. While the JDS and the Congress have agreed to share the seats at seven and 17 respectively, in Bangalore rural constituency, they will be involved in a friendly fight.  Former Chief Minister and state JDS chief, Kumaraswami, also indicated that his party may even back out from contesting from Bangalore Rural constituency. The BJP in the meanwhile, is holding its cards close to the chest, saying that it would release its list on Monday November 30.

In both accepting only seven seats as against eight demanded earlier and holding the alliance together, it is said, Kumaraswami played an important role. He stayed committed to the alliance and worked doggedly, as he was given the authority by the party to negotiate with the Congress Party. After the negotiations held with All India Congress Committee general secretary, Ghulam Nabi Azad, came to a close, opposition leader in the legislative assembly, Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, R V Deshpande, working president D K Shivakumar and Kumaraswami returned to the state capital on Sunday evening.

Leader of the opposition in the council, V S Ugrappa, reportedly sacrificed his Tumkur seat in favour of the JDS candidate, for the sake of alliance. Ugrappa may be given a chance to contest from the legislative assembly, from which, the Congress Party has the numbers to get elected two of its candidates to the council, which is scheduled to take place in June next year. Although the party mooted a friendly fight in his constituency, Tumkur, Ugrappa reportedly expressed his wish to stay out of the fray, for the success of the alliance.

It is said that some of the state leaders are not happy and comfortable at the party’s decision to enter into an understanding with the JDS, but had to tone down their opposition, after the central leaders remained firm on defeating the communal forces. The BJP in the meanwhile, is said to be considering the option of allotting tickets to a few candidates from other parties, in a bid to re-enact the ‘Operation Kamala’ that has already created lost of heartburns within the party.