Udupi seat offered to JD(S): District Congress opposes decision

Udupi: The Congress offering the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru seat to its coalition partner JD(S) has not gone down well with the local party members. Close on the heels of AICC member Amrith Shenoy threatening to quit the party over this issue has now attracted opposition from the Udupi district Congress committee which has urged the party high command to reconsider the decision on March 14^th.

A few local Congress members expressed anger over the party’s decision by burning tyres in front of the party office here on Thursday night.

“The JD(S) has no representatives in the panchayat, nor is it active at the block level. The Congress has a strong presence even at the booth level and its leaders are active. Our party has strong candidates who have been supported by the electorate earlier, and they must be taken into consideration and be given ticket in the Lok Sabha polls,” they said.

“The strength of the Congress party in Udupi was evident on March 10 during the ‘Parivarthana Yatra’ that witnessed a large turnout. Besides, BJP candidate Shobha Karandlaje faces opposition even within her own party. Since situation is favourable to us, this time if we field Congress candidate against her, we have a better chance of winning,” they added.