Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 2: Within days since the coalition government in the state crumbled, both the JD(S) and the Congress have begun their own preparations to independently face the bypoll. While this seems to signify the end of friendship between the two parties and their expectation about chances of early bypolls, the BJP camp seems to be not in a hurry, believing that bypoll is far away.

At the meeting of senior party leaders held at the office of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee on Thursday, many felt that it would be detrimental for the party's interests if alliance with the JD(S) is continued. The party has decided to undertake preparations for the bypoll in the constituencies represented by expelled leaders in right earnest.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao, and other veteran leaders participated in the meeting. After prolonged debate, it was decided to fight the bypoll alone.

In the meantime, former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda, who held consultations with the party leaders and workers, began to collect opinions about the likely candidates who can be fielded in the constituencies that have fallen vacant on account of disqualification. The discussions centred on fielding of candidates in R R Nagar and Mahalaxmi extension constituencies. It was decided to begin strengthening the party with immediate effect and to see that anti-party activists do not get chance to fight election and defeat the official candidates fielded by the party.

Dinesh Gundu Rao noted that block Congress committees in constituencies in which legislators have been disqualified, have been dissolved. As bypoll can approach anytime, he said that the party has to prepare itself for facing the by election. He said that selection of likely candidates would be made after getting reports from leaders and teams of observers.