JD(S) seeks Congress support in RR Nagar constituency

Leaders of the Congress-JD(S) combine are said to be divided in their opinion on supporting each other in the coming elections to Rajarajeshwari (RR) Nagar and Jayanagar constituencies.

While polling for RR Nagar constituency is scheduled on May 28, polling in Jayanagar will be held on June 11. The Election Commission of India postponed the election in RR Nagar, following the seizure of a large number of voter identity cards. The Jayanagar election was countermanded due to the death of BJP candidate B N Vijay Kumar.

The JD(S) is said to be insisting that the Congress should extend its support to it in RR Nagar. In turn, the regional party is ready to support the Congress in Jayanagar. But the Congress leaders are not ready to accept it. The Congress wants the JD(S) to support it in both the constituencies.

The grand old party has, in turn, offered to support the JD(S) in Ramanagar constituency, where byelections will be held. Ramanagar seat has become vacant as JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy retained Channapatna seat. He had won from from both Ramanagar and Channapatna seats.

RR Nagar constituency was represented by Congress’ Muniratna in the previous Assembly. He is the party candidate in the election now. The JD(S) has fielded G H Ramachandra. The BJP candidate is P Muniraju Gowda. If the alliance partners fail to arrive at an understanding, the constituency will witness a triangular fight, sources in the Congress said.

In Jayanagar, the Congress has fielded senior leader Ramalinga Reddy’s daughter Soumya Reddy. The BJP is yet to finalise its candidate in the constituency. The BJP is planning to win both the seats in order increase its numerical strength in the Assembly. Union Ministers Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananda Gowda have been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the election in Jayanagar and RR Nagar, respectively.

Of the 222 constituencies for which elections were held, the BJP has 104, Congress 78, JD(S) 37, others 2 and independent one.