Mysore LS seat: Cong seeks to downplay JDS protests

The Congress in Karnataka Saturday said the Mysore Lok Sabha seat was a prestigious one and there were "some challenges" but it would be sorted out, as it sought to downplay the opposition of some local JDS workers to extend support to the Congress candidate C H Vijayashankar.

At a meeting of JD(S) leaders and workers in Mysuru on Friday, party workers openly opposed supporting the Congress candidate and demanded that Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hold discussions with them, seeking support.

JD(S) workers pointed at Congress not supporting their candidate in Mandya and threatened to support the BJP in Mysore seat in front of minister for higher education G T Deve Gowda.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil is the JDS candidate contesting from Mandya.

Reacting to the development, Siddaramaiah Saturday said the incident was blown out of proportion by the media.

"Some lower rung workers yesterday said at a meeting of G T Deve Gowda that they wont vote for Congress. That became a big news.

Statements of a few individuals are not significant. We clearly tell those working against the party to quit the party and go," Siddaramaiah said.

He said Mysore Lok Sabha constituency was a prestigious seat and there were "some challenges."