Daijiworld Media Network – Mandya (MS)

Mandya, Mar 22: The prominent leaders of the district Congress stayed away from the joint press conference that was called by Congress and JD(S) in the district Lok Sabha constituency with regard to election related matters. This has caused more trouble in the alliance of both the parties.

In the joint press conference that was held on Friday, March 22 in the city, all the Congress leaders who had tasted defeat in the last assembly elections, including former minister Cheluvarayaswamy, Narendraswamy, Rameshbabu, Bandisiddegowda, Madhu Madhegowda, kept themselves away.

Speaking to the reporters, district-in-charge minister C S Puttaraju, said, “Nikhil Kumaraswamy is going to offer a pooja at the Kalikamba temple in the city on March 25. Then he will be taken in procession to file the nomination at the office of the deputy commissioner. Discussion is held with the leaders of both the Congress and JD(S) to bring in as many activists as possible for this event. State level leaders of both the parties, including CM Kumaraswamy and many ministers are going to take part in this event.”

“Around two lac activists from eight legislative assembly constituencies will gather while the nomination is being filed. The work of pacifying the disgruntled workers in the district is being done. We will face the election in unity, keeping aside minor differences,” Puttaraju added.

“I will speak to the former MLAs of the Congress party. As the in-charge minister of the district, I will take them into confidence. I will visit the houses of all the Congress leaders of the state, including Cheluvarayaswamy and bring them for the nomination filing event. I have instructed that no one should speak ill about others. In future, no one will speak against anyone,” he added.