Muslim leaders demand more seats in Assembly polls

KPCC is said to have shortlisted candidates for about 100 constituencies

Minority community leaders in the Congress, on Monday, demanded the party to field community leaders in at least 28 constituencies in the coming Assembly elections in the State.

Almost all leaders of the community, including seniors like Jaffer Sharief, Rehman Khan and Roshan Baig, held a meeting late on Sunday evening and took the decision to demand more representation to the community.

The leaders submitted a memorandum to All India Congress Com mittee Karnataka incharge Madhusudan Mistry and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Com mittee President G Parameshwara in this regard.

The party had given tickets to minority community in 17 constituencies in 2008 Assembly polls. But community leaders of the party have performed well in the recently-held ULB polls by winning about 500 seats. Hence, senior leaders decided to demand more seats, sources said.

This apart, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee election committee, which met for two days, on Saturday and Sunday, is learnt to have selected final candidates for about 100 constituencies, including those currently being represented by party legislators.

A panel comprising an average three names has been recommended for each of the remaining 124 constituencies, sources said.

Names in sealed cover

The list of names has been kept in a sealed cover, which, the KPCC chief will take to Delhi when All India Congress Committee  screening committee will hold its meeting, which is likely only after the announcement of election dates. Besides, Mistry will carry a copy of the list along with him to Delhi and submit it to the high command, sources said.

However, speculations are rife in party circles on the panel of names and final candidates recommended by the committee.

Among names making rounds as final candidates in Bangalore are N A Haris (Shantinagar), Roshan Baig (Shivajinagar), Ramalinga Reddy (BTM Layout), B K Shivaram (Malleswaram), M Krishnappa (Vijayanagar), Priya Krishna (Govindrajnagar), K J George (Sarvajnanagar) and Krishna Byre Gowda (Byatarayanapura).

There are speculations that Tejaswini Gowda’s name figures in the panel of names finalised for Bangalore South constituency, now held by M Krishnappa, BJP.

Mistry, on Monday, held meeting with district presidents of party and discussed poll preparations.

He is likely to leave for Delhi either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday, after further discussions, sources said.