Chamundeswari candidate issue: JD(S), BJP to meet tomorrow

Bangalore, Nov 8 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said leaders of coalition partners JD(S) and BJP will meet tomorrow to decide on fielding a common candidate for the December four bypoll to the prestigious Chamundeswari Assembly constituency.

Talking to newspersons here, he said he had discussed the issue with State BJP President D V Sadananda Gowda over phone and urged him to reconsider that party's decision to put up a candidate. He had requested the BJP not to contest just for name sake, but leave the seat to the JD(S), he added.

''We are ready to extend our support to the BJP if it is really sure of winning Chamundeswari seat...The seat actually belongs to the JD(S) and it is not a prestige issue at all,'' he said.

Earlier in the day, Home Minister M P Prakash also appealed to the BJP to abstain from contesting the seat, which fell vacant following former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah resigning the seat before quitting the JD(S) and joining the Congress.

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