Upset with JD(S), Left parties woo Congress

Owing to differences of opinion on seat sharing for the upcoming Assembly polls, the state units of the Left parties that were earlier exploring the options of an alliance with the JD(S), have now dropped the plan.

Instead, the CPI and CPM are now hoping for a truck with the ruling Congress.  

CPI state general secretary Siddanagouda Patil said the Left parties had written to chief minister and KPCC chief G Parameshwara about 15 days ago in this regard."Though JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has met the CPI national leaders in New Delhi, nothing really has come out of it. The party has announced to field candidates in constituencies where the CPI and the CPM are hoping to contest. It looks like JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy is not too keen on the alliance as he has to accommodate too many aspirants. Moreover, the JD(S) hasn't clarified that it is truly secular -- that it will not form an alliance with the BJP if there is a hung Assembly."

He said the CPI was now hoping to field candidates from four constituencies in alliance with the Congress -- Chikkamagaluru or Mudigere; Kudligi in Ballari and one constituency in Kalaburagi district and Tumakuru or Sira.

"We are yet to hear from the Congress. We will wait till the election dates are announced. If the Congress does not reciprocate, then the Left parties will enter the fray along with Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha, Swaraj India, Janandolanagala Maha Mytri and Janasangrama Parishat," added Patil.

CPM state secretary G V Srirama Reddy said his party was looking at fielding candidates in 24 segments. "We are open for an alliance with the JD(S), provided the party approaches us," he added.

Reddy, a former MLA, wants to contest from Bagepalli in Chikkaballapur district. But, the JD(S) has already announced MLC C R Manohar as its candidate from there.

Kumaraswamy told DH that though his party is open for an alliance with the Left parties, there had been no formal talks between them.