Coalition dharma! JD(S) MLA Kandkur cold to Priyank Kharge’ overture

KALABURAGI: The efforts by Kalaburagi Congress candidate Mallikarjun Kharge and his son Priyank Kharge, who is also the Kalaburagi district in-charge minister, to seek the support of the JD(S) MLA from Gurmitkal Naganagouda Kandkur as per coalition dharma, has received a ‘cold response’ from the latter.

According to well placed sources, Priyank went to the residence of Mr Kandkur in Yadgir town to seek his support as JDS is the coalition partner of the Congress in the state. Mr Priyank was accompanied by Shahapur MLA Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, former legislator Badarli Hampangouda, MLC Basavaraj Patil Itagi and other Lingayat leaders.

Mr Kandkur is learnt to have told Mr Priyank that JD(S) leaders suffered a lot during the past 40 years at the hands of Kharge senior and it would not be easy for him to reconcile with the veteran leader so easily. “However, the coalition dharma warrants that I should follow the diktat of the high command and I will obey them. Further I will also hold a discussion with my supporters in the constituency and take a decision”, Mr Kandkur is understood to have told Mr Priyank.

Gurmitkal Assembly constituency, which elected Mr Kharge eight times consecutively to the Assembly since he first contested in 1972, has played a very vital role in shaping his political career. Even after Gurmitkal became a general seat following its delimitation in 2008, the seat has continued to play a vital role in the victory of Mr Kharge as it is part of the Kalaburagi Lok Sabha constituency though it is located in Yadgir district. For the first time since 1972, in 2018, Gurmitkal elected a non-Congress candidate, Mr Kandkur of Janata Dal (Secular). Mr Kharge’s fight with the Kandakur family is so bitter that he is alleged to have used his clout to register 25 cases against the sitting JD(S) MLA and get him also booked under the Goonda Act.

Meanwhile talking to the media on Thursday, Mr (Mallikarjun) Kharge said that he had invited Mr Kandakur to join him during the filing of his nomination papers on April 4. “However Mr Kandakur expressed his inability saying he was campaigning in Mandya. It’s coalition dharma for all of us to work together. In the rest of Kalaburagi, Congress and JD(S) leaders are working together. I hope that Mr Kandakur will also follow suit”, Mr Kharge added.

Mr Kharge also referred to the meeting Mr Priyank had with Mr Kandakur to seek his support and said, “We have told him that we are ready for any effort to set right any differences or issues. I don’t doubt everybody. I hope that he will support us.”

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