RS seat: Gowda seeks Sonia's support

Gowda’s letter to the Congress chief comes a day before the two parties are set to initiate negotiations to share seats in the Upper House and Karnataka Legislative Council, for which the last date for filing nominations is May 31. JD(S) leader H D Kumarasway is likely to hold talks with AICC general secretary incharge of Karnataka Ghulam Nabi Azad here on Friday.
The Congress, which can win only one seat comfortably, will have to depend on the JD(S) to bag the second. However, the party has conveyed that it is unlikely to accede to the regional party’s wishes saying it will not leave one more seat to the JD(S) in return for the latter’s support in RS elections.

There is also talk of getting Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh elected from Karnataka and Congress leader Oscar Fernandes from Andhra Pradesh. A section of the party which has floated this speculation, says Ramesh has antagonised the supporters of late Andhra Pradesh Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy because of some of his actions. However, senior party leaders dismissed this speculation and said AP Chief Minister K Rosaiah has already promised Gandhi on Ramesh’s election.The biennial elections for the Upper House are due for next month and there are four seats from Karnataka which are up for grabs. Out of these, the BJP is in a position to win two and Congress can get one seat.