Congress, JD(S) to tie up for Karnataka Legislative Council elections

NEW DELHI: Karnataka’s Opposition parties — Congress and JD(S) — are all set to contest the upcoming elections to the state Legislative Council together to take on the ruling BJP. The development will put pressure on the B S Yedyurappa-led regime, which has just emerged out of a leadership challenge posed by the Reddy brothers of Bellary. The election will also decide whether Congress or BJP has the upper hand in the Legislative Council.

The tie-up was formalised after negotiations between Mr Kumaraswamy and Union minister and AICC Karnataka in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad. An announcement about the alliance was expected on Sunday but was possibly held up due to continuing differences over a few seats. Tuesday is the last day for filing nominations for the December 18 elections.

Congress has decided to concede at least six of the 25 seats to JD(S). There is a possibility of a friendly fight between the two parties in Bangalore (Rural), a stronghold of Mr Kumaraswamy, who is an MP from the segment, and perhaps even for the Chitradurga seat, which both sides are claiming, sources indicated. Congress will contest the rest of the seats. JD(S) will be fighting in its strongholds of Mandya, Hasan, Tumkur as well as in one of the two MLC seats in Belgam, Dharwad and Mysore. Congress will contest the other seat in these double-member constituencies, elections to which will be primarily decided by elected members of the local bodies.

While one-third members of the Legislative Council are elected from Local Authorities’ Constituencies, one-twelfth each from Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies, one-third by members of the assembly and the remainder nominated by the governor from distinguished persons from the fields of literature, arts, science, cooperative movement and social service.