JD(S) to get Bengaluru South too?

BENGALURU: The ongoing seat-sharing discussions between the Congress and JD(S) are expected to throw up a surprise with Bengaluru South

Lok Sabha

seat likely to go to the JD(S).


According to Congress sources, the party has still not been able to find a winnable candidate to take on the BJP, whose vice-like grip on the constituency has not slipped since 1991 when late Union minister HN

Ananth Kumar

started contesting. The Congress is now contemplating handing it over to the JD(S).

It’s learnt that former MLA from Chickpet D Hemachandra Sagar, who joined the JD(S) during the 2018 assembly polls after the BJP denied him a ticket, has evinced interest in contesting. “He has approached Gowda,” sources said.

With indications that Gowda may settle for Bengaluru North in lieu of Tumakuru, which may be given back to the Congress to accommodate sitting MP SP Muddahanume Gowda, prospects of the JD(S) trying its luck in

Bengaluru South

appear strong. “The Congress is not likely to press for it as the party did not do any homework on this constituency. It had a good chance of wresting it from the BJP, but none of the persons approached— Ramalinga Reddy, Priya Krishna and his father-minister M Krishnappa —was interested. A suggestion to field a Brahmin was also considered, but there is no strong candidate,” sources said.

The Congress is learnt to have even approached actor Sumalatha with an offer that in the event of her losing, she will be considered for the MLC membership. But, she declined.