JDS disgruntled legislators to support Congress candidate

Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 28: Some JDS leaders who resent the leadership style of their party, are said to have agreed to extend their support to third Rajya Sabha candidate put up by the Congress from Karnataka, K C Ramamurthy. While the Congress has enough strength to elect its first two Rajya Sabh candidates, Oscar Fernandes and Jairam Ramesh, it needs additional votes to secure victory for Ramamurthy.

JDS MLA, Zameer Ahmed Khan, who had earlier held discussions on this issue with Congress leaders, went to New Delhi on Friday May 27, met All India Congress Committee general secretary, Digvijay Singh and held discussions on this issue.

Zameer had boycotted the meeting of JDS legislature party held in a private resort in the outskirts of the city on Thursday. State JDS president, Kumaraswamy however, had claimed that Zameer had sought permission to remain absent.

It is gathered that discussions were held on the issue of extending support to the candidature of Ramamurty by JDS legislators, Chaluvarayaswamy, H C Balakrishna, Akhanda Srinivasamurthy, and Iqbal Ansari in addtion to Zameer.