Bengaluru: The Congress party is still divided over taking Janata Dal (S) help to take control of BBMP. It is learnt that nearly half a dozen ministers like R. Ramalinga Reddy, Shamanoor Shivashankarappa, D. K. Shivakumar, T. B. Jayachandra and senior leaders like M. V. Rajashekharan and former KPCC president Allum Veerabhadrappa reportedly spoke with senior leaders in Delhi informing them about their reservations about the alignment espoused by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's camp.
Speaking to Deccan Chornicle, a senior leader said, "Many especially those from south Karnataka are upset with Mr Siddaramaiah's sudden overtures to the JD(S) after tasting defeat in the BBMP poll. Most of these leaders have said that JD(S) would be ae thorn in the Congress flesh, therefore it would be ideal to sit in the opposition instead of joining hands with the JD(S)."
The source added that the most ministers and a few senior leaders including Arkalgodu MLA A. Manju have sent a message in this regard to various leaders in Delhi in the last three days. Most leaders’ messages have the same tone, they have reminded the high command about the Congress' bitter experience with JD(S) between 2004-06, when former CM, H. D. Kumarswamy orchestrated a coup with the supporters of 30 MLAs to join hands with BJP.
No need to take other parties’ support: Dr G
KPCC President Dr G. maintained that the Congress party did not have to seek a tie-up with other parties in the coming BBMP mayoral polls. Speaking to media men in Tumakuru, he said that he or Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had never spoken with JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda or JDS State President H.D. Kumaraswamy on the mayoral elections.
Asked if a few Congress leaders have been mediating with JD(S) bigwigs to grab the mayoral post, Dr Parameshwar said he knew about this. Congress workers were free to meet anyone as friends. He also said the Congress had not fared badly compared to BJP in the vote percentage.
