Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 22: JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda, is reportedly angry at the comments being passed by Congress leaders about his party about seat sharing process, even before the formula could be worked out amicably.

Gowda is said to have expressed his anguish at the statements issued by some Congress leaders recently, when Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, met him at his residence on Thursday. Gundu Rao had visited the former Prime Minister for discussing seat sharing between the two parties for the Lok Sabha election.

Gowda pointed out that a leader took the liberty to announce the name of candidate for a constituency even before mutual discussions on seat sharing are held between the leaders of the two parties. Another leader announced that Congress would not cede Mandya and Hassan seats to JD(S). He reportedly questioned the state Congress president the adverse affects of such statements.

Dinesh Gundu Rao is said to have told Gowda that his party leaders have been instructed to remain tight-lipped about seat sharing.

The meeting between the two leaders however failed to reach a consensus about seat sharing. Deve Gowda is said to have told the Congress leader that as the main purpose of the seat sharing is defeating BJP, the parties concerned should also be prepared to sacrifice something when striking an understanding. He also said he is prepared to directly hold talks about seat sharing with Congress national president, Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leaders will have another round of discussions with Deve Gowda on this issue on Saturday. Final discussions between Gowda and Rahul will be held during the next week, it is said.

Chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, also met Deve Gowda on Thursday and held talks. The discussions centered on efforts being made to field Sumalatha from Mandya and seat sharing, it is said. The consensus which emerged during the discussion was that the party should not meekly accept the seats offered by the Congress but assert itself and take up with Rahul Gandhi in case of any differences.