No alliance with JD(S) in Assembly polls, says CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi here on Saturday to apprise her of the party’s victory in the bypolls, has ruled out the possibility of the Congress forging an alliance with the JD(S) for the Assembly polls next year.

He told reporters, “Though the JD(S)’ decision not to field candidates in the byelections helped our candidates, we don’t plan to have an alliance or tactical understanding with JD(S) in the next elections.”

Siddaramaiah said, “Before the bypolls, I had spoken to Deve Gowda and requested him to advise his workers to work for the Congress candidates. Many local JD(S) leaders have helped us. I will meet Gowda and thank him personally.” He said the state leaders requested the high command to announce the names of Congress candidates for next year’s elections at the earliest. “They have agreed to our suggestion.”

On the appointment of a new president for KPCC, he said the decision was left to the central leaders “as we have already conveyed our opinion.”

Siddaramaiah also requested the AICC chief to approve the list of three names submitted for nomination to the legislative council. K P Nanjundi, Kondajji Mohan and C M Lingappa are said to have been recommended for the nominations.

On the question of filling two vacant berths in the council of ministers, the chief minister said the matter was not discussed with the party leaders. Dismissing reports that newly elected MLA Geetha Mahadev Prasad would be made minister, he said, “I am yet to decide on whom to induct. Maybe, during my next visit to Delhi, I will discuss with party leaders on this issue.”

He said the party would win more seats in the next polls on its own than its current strength in the Assembly. Siddaramaiah was accompanied by KPCC president G Parameshwara, working president Dinesh Gundu Rao, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George when he called on Sonia, party vice president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders.