Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 29: It is said that seat sharing between Congress and JD(S) for the Lok Sabha elections has been almost finalized. The parties have agreed in principle that Congress would be allowed to retain the constituencies it had won last time except Raichur.

There had been information that JD(S) was seeking some of the constituencies which are being currently represented by Congress MPs, and that this had created problems. Although both the parties have not officially acknowledged it, talks about which constituencies could be shared to which party are continuing. As per reports, Congress national president, Rahul Gandhi, and JD(S) president, Deve Gowda, will meet soon and finalize the deal after holding formal discussions.

Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy

Leaders of both the parties agree that JD(S) has chosen its constituencies by laying emphasis on the constituencies which the family members of Deve Gowda would like to contest from. In spite of opposition from local leaders, Congress party has agreed to leave Mandya and Hassan constituencies to JD(S). Chief minister, Kumaraswamy's son, Nikhil, would be fielded from Mandya while Revanna's son, Prajwal, will get ticket from Hassan. Deve Gowda has chosen to enter the election fray from Bengaluru (north) constituency. So these constituencies have been allotted to JD (S) as per information.

Sources say that Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru, Bengaluru (north), Shivamogga, Bidar, Vijayapura and Raichur constituencies are being ceded to JD(S). None of these eight constituencies except Raichur are represented by Congress MPs. Current Raichur Congress MP, B V Nayak, happens to be close to Ramesh Jarkiholi. It is said that local Congress leaders want the party to demand either Mandya or Hassan seat for itself but the leadership has decided to give both of them to JD(S), it is learnt.

JD(S) is said to be prepared to drop its claim on Mysuru constituency if Siddaramaiah is interested to compete but he has already clarified his unwillingness to do so. JD(S) state president, Vishwanath, has already said that Vijayshankar would be the party candidate from Mysuru.