Finally, Dr G-HDK meet to seal BBMP deal?

Bengaluru: Setting off speculation that the deal between the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) is finally through after many hiccups and behind the scenes hard bargaining, the KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar and state JD (S) chief H.D. Kumaraswamy are finally likely to meet on Sunday to finalise their alliance to gain control of BBMP.

With the Mayoral poll a couple of days away, tensions ran high as a meeting set for Saturday was called off at the very last minute as it was put out that Mr Kumaraswamy was indisposed.

The delay triggered speculation over whether JD (S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda and his son were backtracking on the deal or fine-tuning their strategy ahead of the Mayoral election. When the two state unit presidents meet to seal the deal, insiders said they would discuss finer details of the power-sharing arrangement including key positions in the corporation council.

Leaders of the ruling Congress have decided to pay the BJP back in its own coin by protesting against the vilification campaign by BJP leaders in Bengaluru on Monday. Transport and Bengaluru city in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy chaired a meeting of cabinet colleagues and legislators from the state capital in order to evolve a strategy for mayoral poll.

It was at this meeting that the leaders decided to organize a tit-for-tat protest against BJP leaders and stage a dharna in front of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi on Monday. After the meeting, Mr Reddy flayed BJP leaders for launching a tirade against the Congress and terming the alliance as "unholy," and for trying to mislead the people of Bengaluru.

The minister said a decision on ferrying newly elected members to a secret destination to prevent BJP leaders from poaching them would be taken on Monday in consultation with Dr Parameshwar.