BENGALURU: The Congress’ decision to go to Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the JD(S) is giving the party’s Hassan district leaders the jitters. In a meeting with KPCC Chief Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday, leaders of Congress Hassan unit have urged the party not to give away Hassan parliamentary seat to JD(S) when sharing seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The leaders have been reminded that the decision on seat sharing lies with the high command and working with JD(S) members, setting aside personal differences, at the grassroots level, will be their responsibility.
Rao and working President Eashwar Khandre have been meeting representatives of district Congress committees in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls, former minister A Manju, and senior leaders from Hassan.
B Shivaram, H M Vishwanath, S M Anand along with DCC President Javagal Manjunath urged the party not to give away Mandya and Hassan to the JD(S). Both parties have a strong voter base in both districts and the Congress leaders are worried about losing their vote bank to the JD(S). “JD(S) should not be given both seats of Hassan and Mandya. Our party is strong in both these districts and we should have a candidate in at least one,” said Hassan DCC President Javagal Manjunath.
He pointed out that A Manju had lost the previous parliamentary election from Hassan with just a 50,000 margin indicating that the party has a scope to win this time around in Hassan.With both parties having a significant presence in the region, local leaders are jittery about losing their chance at contesting. The statements are being made despite the AICC sending a strong message to party workers to refrain from making any comments about the coalition partners.