New Delhi/Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday ruled out possibility of the Congress forging an alliance with the JD(S) for the Assembly polls next year.
Speaking to reporters here after having met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss ministry expansion the chief minister said that though the JD(S)’ decision not to field candidates in the byelections helped our candidates, his party doesn’t plan to have an alliance or tactical understanding with JD(S) in the upcoming Assembly polls.
Siddaramaiah said, “Before the bypolls, I had spoken to Deve Gowda and requested him to advise his workers to work for the Congress candidates. Many local JD(S) leaders have helped us. I will meet Gowda and thank him personally.” He said the state leaders requested the high command to announce the names of Congress candidates for next year’s elections at the earliest. “They have agreed to our suggestion.”
Regarding the issue of appointment of a new president for KPCC, he said the decision was left to the central leaders “as we have already conveyed our opinion.”
Siddaramaiah also requested the AICC chief to approve the list of three names submitted for nomination to the legislative council. K P Nanjundi, Kondajji Mohan and C M Lingappa are said to have been recommended for the nominations.
However, the issue of filling two vacant berths in the council of ministers was not discussed this time around and would likely be taken up during his next visit to Delhi, Siddaramaiah added.
He said the party would win more seats in the next polls on its own than its current strength in the Assembly. Siddaramaiah was accompanied by KPCC president G Parameshwara, working president Dinesh Gundu Rao, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George when he called on Sonia, party vice president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders.
