Cong may take call on seat-sharing issue today

Having checkmated the BJP in its latest attempt to embarrass the government, it’s now decision-making time for the coalition partners - a process that may threaten the very alliance, which is already hanging by a thread.

The Congress on Monday will embark upon a series of meetings to decide on the strategies to be adopted for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and to select potential candidates.

One of the important decisions the grand old party will have to make is the number of seats it is willing to cede to its alliance partner, the JD(S).

The party has sought for a minimum of 12 seats. Knowing that the Congress will not risk its government in Karnataka, the regional party has already begun some hardball negotiations.

Even if the JD(S) were to settle for six to eight seats, it will be bound to be in the Old Mysore region, which is bound to be bone of contention between both parties, who are former arch rivals in this region.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said that Monday’s meeting would determine how many seats the Congress is willing to cede to the JD(S).

“The decision taken at the meeting will be communicated to the JD(S). We will also hold a meeting with the JD(S) leaders,” he added.

All senior party leaders, including Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge, Dinesh Gundu Rao, G Parameshwara, H K Patil, Eshwar Khandre, D K Shivakumar, are said to be present in the meetings.

The day will start with a meeting of the publicity committee, headed by MLC C M Ibrahim, followed by the meetings of the coordination and the election committee, headed by Ramalinga Reddy and Rao, respectively.