If JDS on its own reconsiders Tumkuru LS Seat, its good: KPCC

Team Udayavani, Mar 21, 2019, 2:23 AM IST

Bengaluru: Amidst growing discontent among Congress leaders over allotting Tumkuru Lok Sabha seat to JDS, Karnataka Pradesh Congress President Dinesh Gundurao Thursday said it would be good if the coalition partner on its own reconsiders it.

The Tumkuru seat arrangement has created discontentment among local Congress leaders, especially G Parameshwara, who is said to be sulking over the issue.

The seat-sharing arrangement had been struck and it would not be good on the part of Congress to reopen Tumkuru Lok Sabha which has been alloted to JDS, Gundurao said.

“However, if JDS on its own reconsiders it, it would be be good for us. In politics, anything can happen at last minute. No chapter is closed for any deal until the D-date. Things might change, but the arrangement is okay for now,” he told PTI here.

In the outgoing Lok Sabha, Tumkuru is being represented by the Congress and Parameshwara is the Tumakuru district in-charge minister.

Parameshwara has been saying that the Congress had a greater chance of victory in Tumkuru.

He, however, has said he was okay with allotment of Tumkur to the JD(S) if party supremo Deve Gowda himself contested from there.

Replying to a query, Gundurao said the Congress wanted Gowda to contest elections from Bengaluru North constituency.

“I spoke to Deve Gowda ji and requested him to contest from Bengaluru North constituency… Congress has five and JDS two MLAs, who can ensure his victory,” he said.

Gundurao also said the former prime minister’s representation from Bengaluru North will have a huge impact in the region, given his stature in public life.

The 85-year old JDS patriarch is yet to decide on contesting the Lok Sabha poll and been thinking about his ‘usefulness’ in the national capital.

Gowda has said he lacked the strength that he had in 1996, when he became the Prime Minister, but there is “enthusiasm”.