Coordination panel to decide on Mandya seat: KPCC prez

Only the coordination and monitoring committee of coalition government will decide whether a Congress or JD(S) candidate will contest from Mandya constituency in the Lok Sabha polls, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters here on the sidelines of a party event, Rao said the coordination committee, scheduled to meet on Monday, will decide on the seat-sharing among the coalition partners for the Lok Sabha.

Mandya Lok Sabha constituency has been a bone of contention among the coalition parters with both the parties keen that their candidate contest the seat.

Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of late actor-politician Ambareesh, has sought that the Congress allow her to contest from the constituency. Ambareesh represented Mandya in the Lok Sabha for three terms. However, JD(S) does not want to let go of the constituency presently represented by party MP L R Shivarame Gowda.

“There is nothing wrong in Sumalatha seeking a ticket to contest from Mandya. However, the decision of the coordination committee will be final.” Rao said.

The JD(S) has asked for 12 seats, including Bengaluru (North), Chikkaballapur, Mysuru-Kodagu, Chikamagaluru-Kodagu.

JD(S) state president H Vishwanath said JD(S) candidate should be allowed to contest from Mandya as its a strong bastion of the party.