Demand for 12 LS seats based on coalition formula

Former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday said his party should be allotted 12 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state and the Congress should not impose any condition for forging a pre-poll alliance.

While extending support to the JD(S) to form the government in the state, Congress did not impose any condition. The party should not shift from unconditional mode to conditional mode in the sharing of seats, Gowda told reporters here.

A meeting of JD(S) taluks and hobli leaders has been called on January 3 in Bengaluru to discuss selection of candidates. Following this, a blueprint for seat-sharing will first be discussed at the state-level by the coalition coordination committee headed by Siddaramaiah and then, finalised by the heads of both the parties after the ongoing winter session of Parliament.

"The seat sharing will be on a 2:1 formula. After the formation of the coalition government, this formula was adopted in allocating portfolios and appointment to (chairmen) boards and corporations. Naturally, the same formula will apply to Lok Sabha seats," he said.

According to the formula, 11 seats should come to the JD(S) and the party was seeking one extra seat, he said, noting that differences, if any, would be sorted out after deliberating with Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

"Ultimately, Gandhi and myself will discuss and finalise," he said, adding that the JD(S) had got seats in accordance with this formula in the past, when it had allied with the BJP.

Asked if the JD(S) will go it alone in the Lok Sabha elections, if the Congress does not agree to give 12 seats to it, the former prime minister said, "That issue does not arise. This formula has been implemented smoothly all these days."