Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Mar 13: The doyens of Karnataka state coalition politics, former PM Deve Gowda and former CM Siddaramaiah are vying to take control of seat sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Both are using different tricks to hold the decision making power. For the same reason, the finalization of seat sharing among the coalition partners of the state government is getting delayed.
Both the leaders are trying to save the coalition and at the same time secure their foothold. Hence both are trying to overpower each other. Deve Gowda is trying to increase his clout in the coalition by eyeing Hassan, Mandya, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur, Mysuru and Bengaluru North Lok Sabha constituencies.
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Siddaramaiah, who is as well-versed as Deve Gowda in state politics, is trying to retain his power in the coalition as well as increase his control in Congress by using different tactics.
Rumours are also making rounds about the Congress leaders who are against the JD (S) about instigating Sumalatha to contest from Mandya against the JD (S) candidate.
Though Congress and JD (S) have formed a coalition government due to the prevailing situation in state politics after the last assembly elections, there is no guarantee that the same situation will continue in the future also. If Congress loses its existence, then it may take many years for the party to get a hold in state politics again. It is learnt that Siddaramaiah is making his strategy based on this thinking. For the same reason even the Congress high command is facing issues in seat sharing.
Deve Gowda started his counter attack by demanding the Mysuru Lok Sabha constituency for JD (S). He has also given the option of fielding Sumalatha as a Congress candidate from Mysuru, if Congress is not willing to give the Mysuru Lok Sabha seat to JD (S).