Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 5: Congress leaders, who are determined to increase its tally in Lok Sabha election, have planned to field veteran cine actor, Ambareesh, from Myusuru constituency and another actress, Ramya, from city (north) Lok Sabha constituency.

The party is making preparations well in advance for the Lok Sabha election as they want to leave no stone unturned in an effort to reverse its fortunes this time. The meeting which K C Venugopal held with defeated candidates at the offie of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday continued on Saturday too. It is learnt that the discussions at the meeting centered around not only on selection of candidates, but also about the nature of propaganda to be undertaken.

But Ambareesh, who had kept the party leaders guessing during assembly election without informing his decision about participation in election and also stayed away from campaigning for the party, did not participate in the current meeting too although several other leaders from Mandya took part in it, which dampened the spirits of several party leaders. Party leaders, who are aware about the setback the party received during the assembly election in Mandya district because of the non-participation of Ambareesh in the campaign there, are more careful this time.

None of the leaders have expressed their opposition to the proposed candidature of Ambareesh from Mysuru. Former chief minister, Siddaramaiah, too has given his nod for Ambareesh's candidature. H Vishwanath, who had contested with Congress ticket from Mysuru last time and was defeated, has since deserted the party and become JD(S) MLA. Therefore the party needs to look for a new face to field from here. In the city (north) constituency, the party is thinking of fielding minister, Krishna Byre Gowda from there if Ramya refuses to accept the offer. Names of Roshan Baig and Rizwan Arshad were considered for being made a candidate from the city (central) constituency, sources stated.

It is learnt that Roshan Baig expressed his readiness to fight the Lok Sabha election from the city (central) Lok Sabha seat. Ramya was preferred for the city (north) constituency as the constituency has predominance of Vokkaliga voters.

Former minister, H C Mahadevappa, and Cheluvarayaswamy, who were among the defeated candidates expected to take part in the meeting, were not present. Their absence appears to convey the message that they are unhappy with the party leaders. None of the important leaders from Old Mysuru region were present.