Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Mar 16: Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) Dr G Parameshwara, who has lost his fight with former CM Siddaramaiah in retaining the Tumakuru Lok Sabha seat with the Congress party, is now running from pillar to post to get that seat back to Congress.
As per the agreement between the alliance of JD (S) and Congress, Tumakuru Lok Sabha constituency has been given to JD (S), though the sitting MP of the constituency is from the Congress party. This is a major setback to the political clout of Dr Parameshwara. The DCM had paid a visit to the residence of JD (S) supremo Deve Gowda on the night of Thursday, March 14 itself and pleaded with him to give back the Tumakuru constituency to Congress. On Friday also he visited the senior leaders of both JD (S) and Congress along with sitting MP of Congress of Tumakuru, Muddahanumegowda seeking change in their decision.
In the screening committee meeting that was held under the leadership of state Congress in-charge, K C Venugopal, the decision was made of not giving up the constituencies to JD (S), in which the sitting MPs are from the Congress party. However, Deve Gowda had demanded to give one of the two constituencies of Mysuru and Tumakuru to JD (S). Parameshwara is unhappy that, at the last moment, without his knowledge, his constituency of Tumakuru was given away to JD (S). In addition, Dr Parameshwara is pained by the move of the Congress party in retaining the Mysuru Lok Sabha constituency in which the sitting MP is from the BJP.
Dr Parameshwara had expressed his unhappiness by not participating in any meetings on Thursday after he came to know about the seat sharing decision on the night of Wednesday. On the late night of Thursday, Parameshwara met Deve Gowda and requested him to give back the Tumakuru constituency to Congress as the sitting MP of Tumakuru is from the Congress party. Parameshwara met Mallikarjun Kharge on the morning of Friday and urged him to cooperate in getting the constituency back from JD (S).
It is learnt that Dr Parameshwara met CM Kumaraswamy also in this regard and has appealed that "If the sitting MP does not get a ticket, it will be a wrong move in front of the voters of the constituency. Because of the changes made in the last moment, injustice is meted out to sitting MP Muddehanumegowda. So please speak to Deve Gowda and give the seat back to Congress."
It is said that Parameshwara has accused Siddaramaiah of conspiracy in giving away his constituency to JD (S). As per reliable sources, Parameshwara expressed his rage against the party leaders and said with his close aides, "I am being targeted because I am a staunch Congressman. I am the leader of a big community of the state. The party leaders have to keep this in mind."
Congress hadinformed JD (S) to keep Tumakuru with themselves and give the constituency of Mysuru to Congress. It is learnt that Deve Gowda quoted these words of the Congress leaders during the visit of Parameshwara and Muddahanumegowda to the residence of JD (S) supremo. Deve Gowda has also told that they asked for the constituencies of Bengaluru North, Vijayapura and Mysuru but Congress has given Tumakuru to them. The JD (S) chief has also said that “There is still time for the Congress to give Mysuru back to us and take Tumakuru,”
Sitting MP of Tumakuru, Muddahanumegowda said, "I do not know how and why my constituency was taken away from me. But I am confident that I will get the ticket to contest from the same constituency. I have worked till the last day of the session of Parliament. I have asked to give up the constituency with JD (S), if Deve Gowda is not contesting."
Dr G Parameshwara said, "If Deve Gowda contests from Tumakuru, then it is okay. We have requested JD (S) to give the Tumakuru constituency back to us, if Deve Gowda is not contesting from there. During the discussion with the high command it was decided, not to give up the constituencies to JD (S), in which the sitting MPs are of the Congress party. I do not want to make any comparison between Mysuru and Tumakuru."