In poll-bound Karnataka, senior Congress leaders lobby for tickets

The Congress is facing stiff opposition from the party insiders in the selection process of candidates in 60-65 constituencies.

As the poll battle heats up in Karnataka, the lobbying for tickets in Congress has intensified.

Veteran Congress leaders K H Muniyappa, H K Patil, and Dinesh Gundu Rao met Congress national president Mallikarjuna Kharge and reportedly urged him to give importance to loyal Congress leaders while distributing party tickets.

They also complained that state Congress chief DK Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were deciding the tickets and others were not consulted properly. The leaders warned that the Congress turncoats, switching the party ahead of the polls should be ignored while giving tickets.

However, the leaders refused to divulge any information to the media after the meeting.

Separately, senior Lingayat leader and former Minister M B Patil also raised similar concerns saying that he was ignored while deciding the party tickets.

He reportedly expressed his unhappiness over the way the screening committee meeting was held to decide the party candidates. Patil has demanded that at least 65 seats should be given for the Veerashaiva Lingayat Community and serve justice to the community.

Meanwhile, another senior Lingayat leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa is expected to visit Delhi pressing for more tickets to Lingayat Community.

Amid the allegations, DK Shivakumar said, "the party had promised to announce candidates six months in advance. We have finalised names for 170 of the 224 seats. These names are being sent to the Central Election Committee (CEC). They will publish the first list soon. We are still deliberating in finding a consensus on the rest of the candidates.

The Congress is facing stiff opposition from the party insiders in the selection process of candidates in 60-65 constituencies. The party has to solve its internal problems. Consensus should be ensured and the next step should be taken early. Only then, experts say, Congress can give tough competition to BJP and JD(S).

According to pre-poll surveys, Karnataka is set to throw up a hung verdict. The Congress could win over 100 seats, making it the single-largest party in the 224-member Assembly. The 2023 Karnataka opinion poll have predicted 90 seats for the ruling BJP the Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) is expected to bag over 30 seats.

This means the JD(S) may once again become the king maker in Karnataka.