Addressing reporters after inducting eight former JD(S) MLAs, who are Siddaramaiah’s followers, into the party in Bangalore, he said number of seats for SCs and STs will go up as per the redrawn boundaries and that the party do not want to “deprive” these sections of their opportunity of more representation.
Asked whether the process to redraw new boundaries would delay the elections, he answered in the negative. “It is not a major exercise. It is only a question of redrawing constituencies.It doesn’t consume much time. Moreover, it all depends on how soon the Election Commission gears up. The Congress party is ready to face elections whenever they are held,” he stated. He further said that there has been a major change in the urban and rural outlook. The State has witnessed immense development over the years. Hence, delimitation is necessary.
When asked as to when the Centre will issue the notification on implementing the recommendations of delimitation commission, he said that the decision will be taken at an appropriate time.
Prakash camp
Mr Chauhan gave a clear indication of estranged JD(S) leader M P Prakash and his followers joining the Congress by saying “some more people are going to join the party soon.” “Consultations are on and a decision will be taken shortly in this regard,” he added.
He said in a recently held high-level meeting on Karnataka affairs in Delhi, all issues including the return of Maharastra Governor S M Krishna to the State politics, Prakash’s entry into the Congress and delimitation process were discussed. But he refused to divulge details about the decisions taken in the meeting.
‘JD(S) communal’
Taking a dig at the JD(S), he charged the party of turning into communal from secular by joining hands with the BJP to form a coalition government. “It is not JD(Secular), but JD(Communal). Leaders are quiting the party because of shift in its secular stand,” he alleged.
Predicting a complete disintegration of the JD(S) in coming days, he said ensuing battle will be bi-polar between a communal party (the BJP) and a party with ideology (the Congress).
