Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 1: JD(S) has been demanding for allocation of 12 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in the coming election from the Congress. Although it has asked Congress to retain 16 seats with itself, going by the remarks of state JD(S) president, H Vishwanath, that the party is agreeable for 30 percent seats in ministry, boards and corporations etc, it seems that the party may be agreeable if even nine seats are offered to it.

However, Congress leaders here are said to have taken a hard stance. They insist that a maximum of six seats can alone be offered to JD(S). Therefore, JD(S) is said to be preparing to go it alone if it gets only these many seats.

Out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, Congress holds ten seats, and two are represented by JD(S). Therefore, one expects that the seats currently held by these parties will remain with them. The bone of contention now is about the 16 remaining constituencies. Several senior Congress leaders are said to be of the opinion that having truck with JD(S) itself will damage the prospects of the party considerably, and giving it more seats than what it deserves will further ruin chances of their party. Therefore, top Congress leaders including Siddaramaiah, it is said, are not ready to give further concessions to the coalition partner.

Currently JD(S) has its members of parliament only in Hassan and Mandya constituencies. During the recent bypoll, Shivamogga seat was also given to JD(S) but its candidate, Madhu Bangarappa, was defeated. The leaders have also conveyed to Rahul Gandhi about their assessment and the need to take a tough stance on seat sharing. JD(S) national president, Deve Gowda, is scheduled to hold final round of talks on the issue with Rahul Gandhi during the next week, and it would be interesting to see what stand Rahul Gandhi takes there.