Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 5: Even as JD(S) national president, H D Deve Gowda, has been staking claim for eight to ten Lok Sabha (LS) seats for his party, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, and chairman of the coordination committee, Siddaramaiah, have reportedly told All India Congress Committee president, Rahul Gandhi, that a maximum of five seats can be earmarked for the JD(S) in the Lok Sabha election.

During Siddarmaiah's recent visit to new Delhi, he along with KPCC president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, and in-charge of Karnataka Congress affairs, Venugopal, had met Rahul Gandhi and discussed certain issues with him. During these discussions, the leaders told Gandhi that in addition to Mandya, Hassan, Chikkaballapur and Shivamogga, one more seat can be given to the coalition partner, JD(S). They are said to have told their national president in clear terms that no more seats should be given to that party at any cost, as it is not worthwhile. They also stressed that if the JD(S) asks for more, then the very seat sharing understanding will lose its meaning.

Siddaramaiah (left) and Dinesh Gundu Rao

These leaders have also told Rahul Gandhi that allowing Deve Gowda to contest from a constituency within Bengaluru would not be prudent. Reportedly, Siddaramaiah was assertive in his opinion that this step would be detrimental to the interests of Congress party.

Siddaramaiah reportedly expressed to his confidantes the opinon tha Deve Gowda might ask for Mysuru seat but his party has never won from there. If there is no other go, Chikkaballapur or Tumakuru can be considered if there is compulsion to give them seats, it is said.

It may be recalled that during the recent coordination committee meeting, Deve Gowda had placed demand for 12 LS seats through the party's secretary general, Danish Ali. The meeting between Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi took place after that.