Mysuru: With the Election Commission likely to announce the dates for the by-elections in Nanjangud Assembly constituency shortly, it is learnt that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a preparatory meeting with the leaders from the region on the selection of a suitable candidate on January 5.
The chief minister was seen interacting with the senior leaders from the region including Member of Parliament Dhruva Narayana, former MP Sathyanarayana and other senior political leaders at his T K Layout residence on choosing a candidate to take on Srinivas Prasad during the by-elections.
According to sources, MP Dhruva Narayan is not keen on contesting the by-elections as he has more than two years tenure left in the current Lok Sabha. But with the sudden demise of Mahadeva Prasad, who represented Gundlupet region, onus on the Chamarajanagar MP has increased to retain voters in the Congress fold.
Congress is also planning to lure Kalale Krishnamurthy from Janata Dal (Secular) as he retains a clean image. Dr. H C Mahadevappa has been assigned to negotiate with Keshavamurthy and develop a tacit understanding with JDS.
The Nanjangud reserve seat fell vacant after former revenue minister R Srinivas Prasad left Congress to join BJP after he was dropped from the Siddarmaiah ministry.
