Bengaluru: Unhappy with the Congress’ ‘big brother attitude’ in the ruling coalition in Karnataka, JD(S) workers and local leaders have asked the leadership to contest all 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls, party sources said.

Under the coalition arrangement, Congress and JD(S) had announced that they would fight the 2019 polls together.

JDS workers and local level leaders conveyed their position to the party supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda during preparatory meetings in eight districts, the sources said.

Expressing their displeasure against the Congress, JD(S) workers have accused the party of not treating the junior partner in the ruling alliance ‘respectfully’, sources said.

Their attitude is like that of a ‘big brother’, they alleged and said that the Congress was “overlooking” the conditions agreed upon during the government formation. Confirming the development, former JD(S) MLC and spokesperson Ramesh Babu said party workers and leaders had opined that the JD(S) should contest all 28 seats on a ‘friendly basis’ in the coming parliamentary election.

“Workers feel that it is better to contest in all 28 parliamentary constituencies in Karnataka in the coming election,” he told.

The Congress and JD(S) reportedly have difficulty in seat sharing in most of the old Mysuru region constituencies, where JD(S) is a dominant force and Congress has its sitting MPs.

Stating that JD(S) had demanded 12 parliamentary seats, party sources said there was no positive response from Congress to this. Dismayed over Congress’ “big brotherly attitude”, citing issues that allegedly recently cropped up over appointments of heads to boards and corporations, the sources said the leaders and workers had suggested that since JD(S) is part of the coalition government, they could have friendly contests in all 28 seats, instead of levelling charges against that party.

Meetings have taken place in Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga and Mysuru, they said, adding that after January 3, Deve Gowda would elicit the opinion of party workers in the other districts. Congress and JD(S) that had fought bitterly against each other, especially in old Mysuru region, joined hands to form a coalition government after the May 12 assembly polls threw up a hung assembly.

PTI

 The Centre has decided to call a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chief ministers soon to resolve the issue regarding the proposed construction of Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river that led to stalling of Parliament proceedings last week.

The issue was discussed in detail by Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in a meeting with Union Water resources and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday in Delhi.

“In the meeting, Gadkari said he was convinced that the Mekedatu project will benefit Tamil Nadu. The minister also assured that he will direct his officials to fix a meeting of chief ministers of the two states at the earliest,” an official spokesperson of the Karnataka government told reporters.

The Mahadayi water dispute between Karnataka and Goa was discussed in the meeting, but the Union minister said the matter is in court, he added.

Mr Gadkari has said he will call the meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to discuss the implementation of the project, according to an official statement.

The Karnataka chief minister during the meeting brought to his notice that Tamil Nadu has raised objection against the project though it is beneficial to both states, especially for Tamil Nadu, the statement added.

He also requested Mr Gadkari to resolve the issue by calling the meetings of the chief ministers. “Gadkari obliged to call a meeting accordingly,” it said.

Mr Kumaraswamy told PTI that “we have asked the Centre to call for a meeting with the Tamil Nadu government so that the issue can be resolved.”

With the two main Tamil Nadu parties — AIADMK and DMK — protesting in Parliament opposing the Mekedatu project, Karnataka lawmakers, cutting across party lines, have planned an agitation Thursday in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to counter the two parties.

The AIADMK and the DMK are agitating in both Houses of Parliament pressing for scrapping of the proposed dam project.

The Tamil Nadu government has also appealed in the Supreme Court on the matter.

Mr Kumaraswamy’s brother and PWD Minister HD Revanna as well as Karnataka Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar were also present in the meeting in Delhi.

Besides, these two water disputes, the Karnataka chief minister also discussed with the Union minister about the pending national highway projects in the state.

He sought commencement of the construction of the six-lane Bengaluru-Mysure Road, for which the Karnataka government has already acquired 85 per cent of the required land.

The chief minister requested Mr Gadkari to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of the Bengaluru-Hassan section of the NH-75.

Mr Kumaraswamy also urged the Union minister to ask the NHAI to complete the work between Hassan to Gundya via Sakaleshpura (NH-75) and four-laning of the NH-206 from Tumkur-Honnavara.

The chief minister also sought the construction of a four-lane divided carriageway between Hassan to Holenarasipur and sanction of a six-lane elevated highway in Hassan town limit on Belur-Bilikere of the NH-373.

PTI

Newly inducted ministers of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition cabinet is likely to be announced Thursday, party leaders said, as they grappled with problems of dissent and portfolio allocation.

The leaders also sought to downplay the dissidence within the party, even as efforts were on to quell the disgruntlement that had emerged after the recent rejig.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal held a series of meetings on portfolio allocation, which has become another concern as the new ministers lobbied for plum departments.

Several senior ministers were not willing to shed key portfolios they have, adding to the worry, party sources said.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, pradesh congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara among others, Venugopal said the portfolio list is being sent to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, for his approval.

“On portfolio allocation of new ministers, I have discussed with the leaders and took their view. It will now begoing for the approval of the Congress President, who will clear it very soon,” he said.

Terming the meeting as “fruitful”, Rao said Venugopal was likely to meet Gandhi Wednesday evening or night in Delhi, and he will finalise the portfolio allocation.

He said reports about ministers holding two or three portfolios not willing to give up some key departments for others, were “unnecessary speculation.”

According to reports, the meeting between top party leaders Wednesday was not cordial, as Parameshwara expressed displeasure over being asked to give up some key portfolios that he has, by Siddaramaiah.

He currently has departments of Home, Bengaluru city related affairs, Youth Affairs and Sports.

Denying such reports, Rao said “Everything has been discussed in a very good manner, I too saw reports about some clash.. they are all baseless.Some sections of media have also said that portfolios have been decided and they are outwith a list.

From our side all proposals are there, ultimate decision will be taken by Congress President Rahul Gandhi in consultation with Venugopal and us. I think by tomorrow youwill have the announcement,” he added.

The leaders also sought to downplay Ramesh Jarkiholi’s threat to quit as party MLA, sulking over being dropped as minister, and open expression of displeasure by another senior legislator Ramalinga Reddy on not being considered during Ministry expansion.

“You don’t worry about anything, our house is very much intact, everybody will be in Congress itself and nothing will happen,” Venugopal said in response to a question.

Calling Ramesh Jarkiholi a “good leader”, he expressed confidence that he will remain in the Congress.

Reddy is also a “loyal” Congress leader, the party general secretary said, adding that “definitely, we will honour him and nothing will happen.”

In an effort to quell the dissidence, Siddaramaiah had on Tuesday met Reddy and tried to pacify him, but did not meetwith success with Ramesh Jarkiholi who is incommunicado.

According to Congress sources, Venugopal, who met a delegation of Reddy’s supporters including Bengaluru Mayor and corporators, convinced them to wait till Lok Sabha polls.

However, he has given the task of convincing Ramesh Jarkiholi to his brother and newly inducted Minister Satish Jarkiholi.

“I will meet him (Ramesh) today or tomorrow. I will find him and meet him,” Satish Jarkiholi told reporters.

As Ramesh Jarkiholi is likely to make public his decision to quit as Congress MLA Thursday, Rao, describing him “hundred per cent Congress man”, said he has got “Congress blood in him, so I don’t see him going to a communal party like BJP.”

Ramesh Jarkiholi, accused of hobnobbing with the BJP, along with R Shankar, an Independent lawmaker who showed reluctance to be an associate member of the Congress, were dropped during the rejig.

In the much-awaited exercise, the six-month old Congress-JD(S) coalition ministry headed by Kumaraswamy was expanded Saturday with the induction of eight members from the national party.

Agencies