Bengaluru: Congress senior leaders have been unable to arrive at a consensus on the candidates for the forthcoming Local Authorities elections to 25 Legislative Council seats, to be held on December 27.
After talks on forging an alliance with JD(S) fell through, Congress leaders have locked horns over fielding their supporters for these seats. For the Kolar-Chikkaballapura seat, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah favours fielding G.H. Nagaraja, son-in-law of former union minister, R.L. Jalappa which is at present represented by former minister Naseer Ahmed.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader from Delhi said, “Mr Siddaramaiah holds Mr Jalappa in high esteem as he was the leader who launched him as an Ahinda leader after he fell out with JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda. With Mr Ahmed not inclined to contest, Mr Siddaramaiah has evinced interest in fielding Mr Jalappa's son-in-law.”
But this move has been opposed by Kolar MP, K.H. Muniyappa and Chikkaballpura MP, Veerappa Moily as they are eyeing the seat for their supporters.
“Apart from this, minority leaders in Kolar are batting for Youth Congress leader, Mohammed Akram,” the source added. Mr Siddaramaiah wants to field former MP Jayaprakash Hegde from Udupi-Dakshina Kannada seat instead of current MLC Pratapchandra Shetty, a confidant of Congress leader, Oscar Fernandes, which has made things complicated.
In Tumakuru, KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar is backing DCC president, Shafi Ahmed while law minister T.B. Jayachandra and Congress leader K.N. Rajanna are eyeing the seat for their sons.
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