Cong veterans to press for ending ties with JD(S)

With the Congress facing a humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, senior leaders of the party have decided to urge the high command to sever its ties with Janata Dal (S) in Karnataka.

“The Lok Sabha results showed that alliance did not work at ground level and there was no vote transfer. It is better to end the alliance with JD(S) immediately to save the party from further damage,” said a senior leader.

Senior leaders including party candidates who have lost the elections decided to convene a meeting in the Bengaluru next week. “We will appraise the high command about how alliance failed to work at ground level,” he told DH.

“Aiming to improve our numbers in Lok Sabha, we formed an alliance with JD(S). However, election results proved there is no use of alliance,” he said. Had JD(S) and Congress engaged in a friendly fight, Congress would have fared much better, he said.

“If we do not end our ties with JD(S) now, it would lead to a huge set back for the party in coming days as local bodies polls are due next month. Since in several districts, both JD(S) and Congress were traditional opponents, leaders can’t impose alliance from the top on them,” said the leader.