Congress leaders are likely to agree to a 19:6 formula
CM Siddaramaiah and JD(S) chief Deve Gowda deep in conversation as Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal looks on, in Patna on Friday. The leaders were in Patna for Nitish Kumar's swearing-in ceremony (Photo: DC)
Bengaluru: Away from the media glare, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and JD (S) president H.D. Deve Gowda made the most of their presence in Patna while attending the swearing-in ceremony of a new team headed by JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar to discuss about a seat sharing arrangement for forthcoming polls to the Legislative Council.
“Mr Gowda reportedly suggested to Mr Siddaramaiah that it would be appropriate for both parties to follow the seat sharing formula adopted in 2009. This issue is likely to figure during the meeting between Mr Digvijay Singh and Mr Siddaramaiah and other senior leaders during the former’s likely visit to Bengaluru on Sunday,” sources in Congress told Deccan Chronicle.
The Congress needs 17 seats to secure absolute majority in the upper House and if the party strikes a deal with JD (S), the sources said, it could help the party get majority. Mr Singh is likely to discuss and finalise the parameters for selection of candidates. “Mr Singh may not finalise names, instead he may give policy guidelines, which will help the state leaders to finalise their list,” the sources disclosed.
Congress leaders are likely to agree to a 19:6 formula so that the ruling party could contest 19 seats, leaving the remaining six to JD (S).
Sources said during Chief Minister S. M. Krishna's tenure (1999-2004), the party contested all 25 seats and won 23 seats on its own. “Subsequently, we have always had tacit arrangements with other parties to win these seats. In 2009, we had an arrangement with JD(S). Now, too, we are hoping to have an alliance with them."
The source added that as of now the party has chosen not to field in all 25 constituencies, meaning wherever there are two seats, the party would field only one candidate.
“For instance, in districts like Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Mysuru (Kodagu not included), Dakshin Kannada, Bengaluru and Kalaburgi which have two seats each, the party is possibly looking at contesting only single seat rather contesting both seats,” the sources explained.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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