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Congress-JD(S) plan rally on March 31

BENGALURU: In a rare show of unity ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, JD(S) president HD Deve Gowda, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and state Congress leaders including former chief minister Siddaramaiah showed up together in Bengaluru on Tuesday, pleading to work together for the success of the JD(S)-Congress combine’s candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.



Their efforts to clear the air has come amid rebellion in district units of the Congress, with sections of Congressmen refusing to work for JD(S) candidates after the coalition partners announced a botched-up seat sharing. The Congressmen are upset that their party has conceded seats such as Udupi-Chikmagalur and Uttara Kannada where the JD(S) has no presence. The leaders have openly rebelled even in Mandya and Tumakuru, which the JD (S) have managed to wrest from the Congress.

Of the 28 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress and the JD(S) are contesting in 20 and eight seats, respectively. Top Congress-JD(S) leaders held a meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday morning on their election preparedness and strategies. Addressing the media later, Gowda said that both the parties are united and will speak in one voice. “Any small differences that exist among both the parties will be sorted out. There is no scope for dissent or difference from now on. Our aim is to ensure that the BJP will not reach the double-digit mark,” Gowda said.

Both the parties that are fighting the elections together have also decided to appoint observers in every Lok Sabha constituency.

“These observers will coordinate between the district-level leaders and workers of both parties, and address any differences that may arise in the runup to the polls,” Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah said.

While both the parties have been holding their campaign meetings separately, the two parties will hold their first joint campaign rally on March 31. AICC president Rahul Gandhi and Gowda will address the rally either in Bengaluru or Mysuru to reach out to voters in the old Mysuru region, where both parties have a strong base. The old Mysuru, barring Davanagere and Shivamogga, will go to polls on April 18.

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