The Hindu : Front Page : Congress confident of getting JD(S) votes in presidential election

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Friday, Jul 06, 2007
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Congress confident of getting JD(S) votes in presidential election

S. Rajendran

Party leaders hold discussions with Janata Dal (Secular) leadership

Congress hopeful of getting support of 100 legislators
Party holds meeting to finalise strategy

Pratibha Patil

Bangalore: On the eve of the arrival of Pratibha Patil, the United Progressive Alliance presidential candidate, the Congress in Karnataka is optimistic of obtaining a big chunk of the Janata Dal (Secular) votes in the presidential elections with the All India Congress Committee leaders reportedly engaged in discussions with the top leadership of the Janata Dal (Secular).

The Janata Dal (Secular) is expected to announce its decision closer to the election on July 19. However, insiders believe that the party could go two ways, with one section voting for National Democratic Alliance candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, and the other for the United Progressive Alliance.

Sources in party circles told The Hindu that a section of the Janata Dal (Secular), which was instrumental in tying up the arrangement with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in forming the coalition Government in the State would pos sibly vote for the BJP candidate in the presidential elections, while the main chunk of the Janata Dal (Secular) would vote for the UPA candidate.

President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, M. Mallikarjun Kharge exuded confidence that the Congress would be successful in garnering the support of over 100 legislators irrespective of the fact that the party’s strength in the Legislative Assembly was 65.

The Congress on Thursday called upon its legislators and members of Parliament to engage in discussions with all other legislators and MPs known to them in an effort to bolster the strength of Ms. Patil who will arrive here on a two-hour campaign visit from Thiruvananthapuram. Interestingly, Ms. Patil, after addressing the party legislators and MPs, would be meeting non-Congress legislators at another venue before leaving for Hyderabad to continue with her campaign.

A high-level meeting was held at the Congress headquarters on Thursday to finalise the party’s strategy.

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