Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120356870100.htm

Karnataka

JD(S), Congress yet to hold alliance talks

S. Rajendran

BANGALORE: Discussions for the much-awaited alliance between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) for the crucial byelection to the Legislative Assembly from eight constituencies on December 27 are yet to be initiated though the election calendar begins on Wednesday with the filing of nominations.

Last date

December 10 is the last date for filing of nomination papers when it will also be clear whether the two parties will fight the byelection together. The president of the State unit of the Janata Dal (Secular), H.D. Kumaraswamy, and the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, R.V. Deshpande, told The Hindu that as of now there had been no discussion between the top leaders of the two parties and consequently they were in the process of finalising their candidates.

Contest

Mr. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Deshpande said that their respective parties had decided to contest in all the constituencies.

While the Janata Dal (Secular) will announce its list of candidates in Bangalore anytime, the Congress list will be announced in New Delhi after Mr. Deshpande holds discussions with the party high command tentatively on Thursday.

The Mumbai terror attack has apparently relegated the byelection to the Assembly to background.