Lok Sabha elections: At Rahul Gandhi -Deve Gowda meeting, JDS bargains for 10 seats in Karnataka

Bengaluru: AICC president Rahul Gandhi and JDS national president HD Deve Gowda, who met in Delhi on Wednesday, could not reach an understanding on seat-sharing between the two parties for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Gowda, however, has relented a bit from his earlier demand of 12 out of the 28 seats for the JDS, and demanded 10 seats from the Congress. Gandhi, however, did not agree to this demand because Gowda had insisted on specific constituencies in the Old Mysuru region, some of which were held by the Congress.

After the prolonged meeting, Gowda told reporters that the seat sharing will be finalised in about a week’s time.


AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka KC Venugopal and JDS leader Danish Ali will carry the talks forward, and the Congress will arrive at a decision only after Venugopal submits his report to Gandhi.

Gowda is of the view that the JDS and the Congress could together defeat the BJP only if the Congress gives up some of the seats in the Old Mysuru region where the Congress has substantial presence.

The JDS derives its strength from the Old Mysuru districts, and not so much from the North Karnataka region.