Cong tries to woo Bangarappa

The Congress is exploring the possibility of splitting the Samajwadi Party in Karnataka, even as the two parties...

The Congress is exploring the possibility of splitting the Samajwadi Party in Karnataka, even as the two parties remain engaged in negotiations for seat-sharing arrangement in the Assembly election.

The Congress is learnt to have proposed to SP state president S Bangarappa to return to the Congress, which he had left to join the BJP ahead of the 2004 general election and later switched over to the SP. Bangarappa remains non-committal so far, according to Congress sources.

In the meantime, the negotiations are mainly stuck on Bangarappa8217;s claim for Soraba Assembly constituency represented by his elder son Kumar Bangarappa. The father and son had fallen out after Kumar Bangarappa refused to quit the Congress to follow the footsteps of his father.

Bangarappa now wants the Congress to hand over Soraba, which he had represented six times, so that he can field his younger son Madhu from the seat, said the sources.

8220;We cannot agree to this demand. How can we deny it to our sitting MLA?8221; said a senior Congress leader who is a member of the screening committee negotiating with Bangarappa. The Congress is ready to concede 8220;more than five seats8221; to the former Karnataka chief minister if he were to give up his claims on Soraba. Bangarappa has staked claims on 24 seats.

8220;So far an alliance with the SP looks highly unlikely. The situation could be different if Bangarappa decides to return to the Congress along with his flock,8221; a senior party leader from Karnataka told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Monday night declared candidates for seven Assembly seats, including four for which candidates were changed. Film actors M H Ambareesh and Jaggesh, who had been denied tickets in the list released on Saturday, were accommodated in the fresh list after the two went public with their intention to contest even without the Congress symbol.

Story continues below this ad

Former Union Minister Ambareesh got the Congress ticket from Shrirangapattana, replacing Ravindra Srikantaiah whose name had figured on Saturday8217;s list. Similarly, comedian Jaggesh came in place of Chowdary Rangappa as Congress candidate from Turuvekere.

Former Karnataka Minister H M Revanna, whose name had figured in the infamous JMM bribery case8212;he was acquitted later8212;got the ticket from Habbal. He replaced Ravi Shankar Shetty whose name had figured on Saturday8217;s list.