Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 31: Leader of Congress legislature party in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said that partners in the coalition government of Karnataka, Congress and JD(S), need to enter into an understanding over seat sharing formula for the coming Lok Saba election in the interests of democracy.

Speaking to media persons on Sunday December 30, Kharge felt that there was no need for JD(S) to issue a statement claiming that it wants stake claim on 12 Lok Sabha seats. "Leaders of both the parties should come together and hold discussions. These discussions will determine how many seats are to be shared between the two parties,”

“Just because JD(S) leaders have expressed their opinion it does not mean that the seat sharing ratio has been finalized. Everything will be clear once the leaders discuss issues based on facts, figures and reality," he stated.

Kharge said he was ignorant about the JD(S) having staked claims on seats in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. He also said he was unaware of any discussions which reportedly have happened between Congress president, Rahul Gandhi, and Deve Gowda.

He also said he does not know much about the differences between the coalition partners over the issue of restoration of reservation-based promotions for state government employees belonging scheduled caste and tribes. He however asserted that the government is on the right track.

About the demand for giving the post of the chief minister to a Dalit, Kharge said that this issue is best left to his party and that JD(S) is free to handle issues concerning that party. He felt that this is the time one should concentrate on facing Lok Sabha election.