Bengaluru, Mar 9: After a prolonged bargain with Congress leaders, HD Deve Gowda led Janata Dal (Secular) has reportedly decided to support candidates of the national party in 20 segments and field own candidates only in eight segments in Karnataka in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The likely constituencies where the JD(S) would contest are Mandya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Bengaluru North, Vijayapura, Tumakuru, Uttara Kannada (coastal Karnataka), and Chickballapur.
On the other hand, the Congress has reportedly promised the JD(S) to support it in one constituency each in Maharashtra and Kerala.
Sources in the Congress and the JD(S) said that seat-sharing formula would be announced after a screening committee meeting scheduled in New Delhi on Monday.
JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and Congress president Rahul Gandhi have held a first round of meeting in Delhi. A section of the Congress leaders have reportedly expressed their views against conceding 10 seats to the JD(S) in the State.
Congress leaders are expected to talk about seat-sharing formula with Mr. Gandhi, who will launch the party’s election campaign in the State at the ‘Parivartana Rally’ in Haveri on Saturday.
Like the BJP, which started its poll campaign through a mega rally in Hubballi addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress too has chosen a place in north Karnataka to launch its campaign.
Hectic preparations were under way at Municipal High School Ground in Haveri on Friday, where people of the Haveri Lok Sabha constituency that also includes Gadag district, will congregate on Saturday.
On Friday, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao, accompanied by district in-charge Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed and others, reviewed the arrangements.
Mr. Rao said along with Mr. Gandhi, AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, senior leaders from the State, including the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara would be participating. Mr. Rao said around 1.5 lakh people were expected to participate in the rally.
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