Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jul 25: Both the Congress and the JDS have decided not to go ahead with efforts to reach an understanding on fielding consensus candidates for the five assembly constituencies, which will go to polls on August 18. While the BJP has already finalized four of its candidates, the Congress and the JDS will shortly come out with their lists.

It is reliably learnt, that the Congress has decided to field Priyanka Kharge, son of union minister Mallikarjun Kharge for Chittapur constituency, former MLA Jayanna from Kollegal, Priyakrishna, son of Vijayanagar MLA M Krishnappa from Govindarajanagar, former MLA C M Lingappa from Ramanagar and T K Yogish, son of ex-MLA, the late T V Krishnappa from Channapatna constituency. However, D K Suresh, brother of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Shivkumar, is also trying hard to get a ticket from Channapatna constituency.

A meeting of KPCC president R V Deshpande, working president D K Shivkumar and opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah was held with top leaders of the party including in-charge of the state Congress affairs, Gulam Nabi Azad, at Delhi. As Siddaramaiah strongly opposed any move to strike an understanding with the JDS, it was decided that the party would go it alone.

The JDS, which has got the indication that the Congress is not interested in having a truck with it, is bracing up to face the election alone. MP and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswami got this hint from the Congress Party, during the meeting he had with some national leaders of the Congress in the residence of MP Dharam Singh at Delhi. The national leaders reportedly told him that the Congress party is not in a position to trust JDS and Deve Gowda and asked the JDS leaders to convince state leaders including Siddaramaiah about the need to reach an electoral understanding.

The BJP has come up with the names of Valmiki Nayak, who was defeated by Mallikarjun Kharge in the last election from Chittapur constituency, as its nominee again. Former Congress legislator Nanjundaswami will be its candidate from Kollegal constituency. It has already announced the names of former MLA C P Yogeshwar from Channapatna and minister V Somanna from Govindarajanagar constituency.

It is yet to finalize the name of its candidate for Kollegal constituency.