MYSORE: The Congress party's local leadership has opposed any tie-up with Janata Dal(S) in the hung zilla panchayats of Mysore and Mandya districts.

The Congress leadership in the two districts favour an alliance with All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) led by the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

All the 18 newly elected Congress members of Mysore Zilla Panchayat met at the party office here on Monday and decided against any truck with Janata Dal(S), which has eleven members in the 46-member House. The Congress, which has emerged as the single largest party in Mysore Zilla Panchayat, chose to align with the AIPJD, which has 15 members.

`Sick of JD(S)'

"We are sick of Janata Dal(S). Instead of Janata Dal(S), the Congress prefers to go with the AIPJD", said the former Minister H. Vishwanath at a press conference held soon after the meeting of the Congress members.

Senior Congress leaders of the district, including the former Ministers M. Shivanna, M. Mahadev and MLC D. Made Gowda, were present on the occasion.

Mr. Vishwanath dared the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal(S) leader H.D. Deve Gowda to withdraw support to the Government. "I challenge Mr. Gowda and the working president of Janata Dal(S) H.D. Kumaraswamy to withdraw from the coalition if they have the guts to do so", said Mr. Vishwanath, when reminded of Janata Dal(S) leaders' recent threat in the regard. Gowda's pressure tactics

Mr. Vishwanath said the Congress party has been tolerating Mr Gowda's threats and pressure tactics right the from the day the coalition assumed power more than eighteen months ago.

Asked whether the decision of the local leadership will jeopardize the Congress-led coalition, in which Janata Dal(S) is a partner, he said Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mallikarjun Kharge has allowed them to "think globally, but act locally."

The Congress party's strength in the 46-member Mysore Zilla Panchayat was reinforced with the entry of lone independent member Puttabasavaiah into the party fold. Mr. Puttabasavaiah, who won the election as a Congress rebel, was present at the meeting.

With Mr. Puttabasavaiah's entry, the strength of the Congress party, which won 17 seats, went up to 18.

Meanwhile, President of Mysore district unit of Janata Dal(S) G.T. Deve Gowda criticised the Congress for hobnobbing with the AIPJD at the district level, while sharing power with Janata Dal (S) at the state level

Scene in Mandya

The Congress party has opposed any truck with Janata Dal(S) in Mandya Zilla Panchayat too.

"If the high command forces us to enter into an alliance with Janata Dal(S) in Mandya, all the party leaders in Mandya and elected members of zilla and taluk panchayats will resign en masse," Congress MP from Mandya Ambarish told reporters.

Though Janata Dal(S) has emerged as the single largest party in the 40-member Mandya Zilla Panchayat by winning 18 seats, the Congress, which has 16 members, has decided to join hands with five AIPJD members.

The Congress party's decision to align with AIPJD to seize power in Mandya Zilla Panchayat has come amid rumours that Janata Dal(S) is planning to lure three AIPJD members into supporting it.

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