Karnataka - Belgaum   

They unite to fight MES in BCC elections

Belgaum: Overcoming party rivalries, principles and ideological differences, the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) have joined hands with Kannada organisations for a pre-poll alliance to defeat Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES) in the September 28 polls to the Belgaum City Corporation (BCC). Towards achieving this, they have formed the “Sarvabhashik Sarvapaksha Chunavane Samithi” (SSCS).

The development follows a series of inter-party discussions under pressure from Kannada organisations, which have been lobbying to field common candidates against the MES candidates.

Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, veteran Kannada leader and former Mayor Siddangouda Patil said the SSCS would be contesting 44 of the 58 wards under the BCC.

It would identify candidates who showed fidelity to interests of the State and were committed to work for the development and progress of the city.

They would include members from Kannada, Urdu and Marathi speaking communities in the city, he said.

While making the announcement here on Monday, it was said that the decision on forming the SSCS was limited to the BCC elections only. The State leaderships of the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular), which have decided to contest elections on their own in the State, gave the go-ahead to unite and protect the interests of Karnataka and the Kannada-speaking people in Belgaum.

Clarifying that SSCS would not field its candidates in 14 wards, Congress leader Ramesh L. Kudachi said that the elected Corporators would support the SSCS, irrespective of those elected in these wards.

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