Seat sharing deal for LS polls in Karnataka: Cong likely to field 18-20 candidates; JD(S) 8-10

Bengaluru, Jul 8: The Indian National Congress is likely to get opportunity to contest at least two-third of total Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka following a seat-sharing agreement with Janata Dal (Secular) in upcoming general elections.

There are 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka, and the Congress contested in all in 2014 and won nine seats, while the BJP won 17 and the JD(S) two. In the 2009 general elections, the BJP secured 19 seats, Congress six, and JD(S) three.

According to sources, the formula adopted for allocation of Cabinet berths in the coalition government in the state is expected to be used in chalking out a seat-sharing deal between the two parties. During the allocation of Cabinet berths, the Congress was given two-thirds (22) of the 34 berths.

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister M Veerappa Moily, said that the two parties are expected to enter into an alliance for the 2019 elections and the Congress would contest in 18-20 constituencies, leaving 8-10 seats for the JD(S).

Moily did not name the constituencies where the JD(S) would field its candidates. He said an agreement on contesting the general elections jointly has been reached between the two parties. “We will continue the same formula adopted for sharing Cabinet berths,” he said. In the next few months, the party’s central leadership would take a final call on the exact number of seats to be shared, he added.