Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Mar 17: All the three major political parties of Congress, BJP and JD (S) are still embroiled in choosing the right candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The notification for the first phase of election in the state will be declared on March 19 and the parties have to finalize their respective candidates by then. So the activities related to this are in full swing in all the three parties.

BJP core committee meeting is scheduled to be held on March 17, the list of candidates will be discussed in the meeting and sent to the central election committee of the party for approval. The national parliamentary meeting of BJP will be held on Monday, March 18 and the final list of candidates will be approved in that meeting.

On Saturday, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa held discussions throughout the day, with several state leaders of the party as a preparation for the core committee meeting. He visited senior leader S M Krishna at his residence in the city and took suggestion and guidance from him. In the midst of these activities. BJP MLA K B Shanappa has resigned from party owing to the attitude of the state party leaders.

As the AICC election committee meeting is postponed to March 19, state Congress leaders are keeping their fingers crossed for the final list. In the midst of this expectation, the objection of local Congress leaders is continuing for offering certain constituencies to JD (S). On the other hand, there is a demand also to change the sitting MPs as the public is against some of them.

Sitting MP Muddahaunmegowda of the Congress is trying all ends up to get the constituency of Tumakuru, which is given to JD (S) as per the alliance agreement, back to Congress. K N Rajanna of Congress is threatening to contest as an independent candidate, if Tumakuru constituency is given to JD (S). Former CM Siddaramaiah tried to console former Congress minister M Manju, who has expressed his objection for the contest of Prajwal as the alliance candidate in Hassan over telephone. The delegation of Hassan Congress leaders also met Siddaramaiah and discussed the political scene in the district.

Congress MLAs of Kolar are in Delhi and meeting AICC leaders, demanding not to give party ticket at any cost to sitting MP of Congress K H Muniyappa as there is anti-public wave against him.

In JD (S), chaos are still prevailing in finalizing the candidates for the five constituencies, out of the eight, the party will be contesting as alliance partner of Congress. There is no clarity on the constituency from where the party supremo Deve Gowda will contest. As of now, Deve Gowda is likely to contest from Tumakuru and the name of retired justice Gopalagowda's name is making the rounds. In addition, rumours are being heard that the sitting Congress MP of Tumakuru, Muddahanumegowda will be the JD (S) candidate for either Tumakuru or Bengaluru North.

The sources in JD (S) are saying that clarity with regards to the candidates will be obtained only after Deve Gowda has a final discussion on Sunday or Monday with the state Congress leaders.

The Congress central committee meeting is going to be held on March 19 at Delhi. The list of candidates will be released on that day at Delhi itself. This information was given by KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre. He also informed that invitation is offered to AICC president Rahul Gandhi to contest from Karnataka.

In the constituency of Mandya all eyes are set on Sumalatha Ambareesh, who has said that she will announce her political decision on Monday. She conducted road show in and around K R Nagar in the district and said, "Why the JD (S) is scared of me? All the eight MLAs falling under the limits of Mandya Lok Sabha constituency are from JD (S). Out of this, there are three ministers. In addition, there are three MLCs of JD (S). Even the state government is run by them." Sumalatha also taunted minister Sa Ra Mahesh by saying, "Why the situation has arose, wherein a minister has to warn the Congress leaders and workers to abide by the alliance commitment?"

Speaking in Mysuru, Minister Sa Ra Mahesh, warned the Congress to abide by the alliance agreement and said, "If you support us in Mandya, we will support you in Mysuru." He also taunted Sumalata and said, "When Ambareesh himself said no to politics, why you are contesting?"