Cong has its task cut out in choosing its candidate for Bangalore central | ||
D Vasudevan. Bangalore | ||
Former foes are now on the same side of the party divide. But that has not stopped them from being engaged in a tug of war over a Lok Sabha seat. The two Congressmen, super cop HT Sangliana and veteran politician CK Jaffer Sharief, are both eyeing the Bangalore Central constituency. Bangalore city had only two parliamentary seats — Bangalore South and Bangalore North — before the delimitation and expansion of Bangalore City Corporation limits. Now, the city has four seats: North, South, Central and Rural. In the last Lok Sabha elections (2004) both the city seats were captured by the Bharatiya Janata Party. While the South seat was won by Ananthkumar, in the North a history was created when Sangliana, a political novice, romped home by defeating two heavyweights — Congress candidate Jaffer Sharief and JD(S)'s CM Ibrahim. With the changed political landscape of the country, all three are now on the same side.  Sangliana quit the BJP due to his differences with the party and joined the Congress. Ibrahim too defected to the Congress from the JD(S), along with Siddaramaiah. Sharief is now moving heaven and earth to get the Bangalore Central seat to reestablish clout in the Congress. This has created a problem for the high command, because Sangliana supported the UPA government during the crucial trial of strength in Parliament voted in favour of the Congress, defying the BJP whip. Sangliana is very keen on contesting from Bangalore Central seat. Party sources said Sharief will be the possible choice for Bangalore Central. Meanwhile, the Janata Dal(S) is likely to ask Zameer Ahmed Khan, MLA, to contest from the constituency. |
