We will not trouble Congress in LS by-polls in Karnataka; JDS

Bengaluru: JDS said it would not ‘trouble’ its ruling coalition partner Congress in the November 3 by-polls to three Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka.

JDS secretary general Danish Ali hinted that JD(S) would concentrate more on the Mandya seat, which falls in the old Mysuru region where the party is strong in the Vokalliga belt.

“We will not trouble our ally Congress and will concentrate only on the seat we held,” Ali told PTI here.

Within the first family of the JD(S), there are at least two claimants to contest from Mandya.

While some JD(S) leadershave demanded that Chief Minister Kumaraswamy’s wife Anita Kumaraswamy be fielded, there is another section opting for party supremo Deve Gowda’s grandson and PWD minister H D Revanna’s son Prajwal.

A section of leaders Tuesday announced the name of Anita Kumaraswamy at a party meeting in Ramanagar, leading to a heated exchange of words between party workers at the venue.

The leaders even announced that Anita Kumaraswamy would file her nominations on October 11.

To a query on the Mandya seat, Ali said, “Ramanagar and Mandya are crucial for us. I will neither say who will contest from there nor confirm whether Anita Kumaraswamy is going to contest from Mandya.”

The elections to three parliamentary seats will be held in Ballari, Shivamogga and Mandya due to resignation of BJP leader B Sriramulu, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa and C S Puttaraju JD(S) in May this year from the Lok Sabha.

The three leaders have been elected to the assembly.

The Election Commission had on Saturday announced bypolls to Shimoga, Bellary and Mandya Lok Sabha constituencies, and Ramanagara and Jamkhandi assembly constituencies would be held on November 3.

Counting of votes will be on November 6.

Kumaraswamy Tuesday had an hour long discussion with Gowda and Ali here, party sources said.