Bengaluru: Congress leaders belonging to the minority community in the state, on Tuesday reportedly made a vain bid to extract more seats for the community with the central leadership politely declining the request stating that the party would opt for winnable candidates instead of wholly depending on the ‘social engineering’ formula.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior functionary stated that minority community leaders, including R. Roshan Baig, met party leaders in New Delhi, when Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah too was present and were told not to press for too many of their candidates.
“We have taken care of the minorities by ensuring four MLCs and one Rajya Sabha MP exclusively for Muslims,” the source said quoting Mr Siddaramaiah, however, the CM reportedly assured them that all Muslim MLAs who had won last time would be assured tickets.
Muslim leaders wanted at least 26 seats arguing that the community was the second largest in the state and should not be ignored.
Apart from this, Congress leaders have persuaded Nayaka community strongman, Satish Jarkiholi to take up the challenge of countering the BJP's Nayaka face, B. Sreeramulu.
“If at all anyone can give a stiff challenge to Sreeramulu, it is Mr Jarkiholi. Be it from the resources point of view or popularity, he is a notch above Mr Sreeramulu. Hence, party leaders persuaded Mr Jarkiholi, who is miffed with Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah for the last couple of years to take on the task and a reluctant Mr Jarkiholi is learnt to have assured them that he would take on Mr Sreeramulu,” the source explained.
Dr G to contest from Koratagere, B’luru?
Speculation is rife that Karnataka Pradesh Congress (KPCC) president, Dr G. Parameshwar, who had lost in Koratagere last time by over 30,000 votes, is likely to contest from two seats - Koratagere in Tumakuru district and Pulikeshinagar in Bengaluru urban district.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior Congress functionary said that Dr Parameshwar seems to have developed cold feet owing to the substantial presence of Kuruba and Golla community voters in Koratagere,where he had lost last time.
“Although he has started focusing on his constituency by meeting voters in the last two years. he is still not confident and is looking for a safe seat for himself in the city. His name is doing the rounds for Pulikeshinagar," the source explained.
A party functionary added that Congress president Rahul Gandhi has given the green signal to Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah’s ‘dual seat’ plan but Dr Parameshwar is yet to get his approval as he reportedly decided on contesting two seats only after reaching New Delhi.
