NEW DELHI, Mar 18 : Congress president Sonia Gandhi has decided against nominating members of the Rajya Sabha to contest the Lok Sabha elections. The move would mean denial of party nominations to Union Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni, Union Minister of State for Industry Ashwini Kumar, both of whom were seeking party tickets from Punjab, and AICC general secretary B K Hariprasad, who was in the reckoning for the Bangalore (South) Lok Sabha seat.
There is also uncertainty on whether PCC presidents could contest the elections. As far as, Orissa PCC president K P Singh Deo is concerned, party sources indicated that he prefers contesting both the Assembly and Lok Sabha seats. The decision on fielding former Orissa Chief Minister J B Patnaik for contesting the polls has been left to Sonia Gandhi.
Similarly, the decision on fielding former Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna from Bangalore (South) has been left to Sonia Gandhi. Though Krisha is a member of the Rajya Sabha, an exception may be made for him since he belongs to the Vokalliga community.
By fielding him, the Congress wants to reassert its hold on the community which has almost switched over to JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy.
Krishna’s opponent in Bangalore (South) would be the redoubtable BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar.
Former Union Minister Janardhan Poojary is likely to be fielded from Mangalore and former Karnataka Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily from Chikaballapur.
Mangalore is being considered as a prize seat by the Congress and it feels its prospects have improved in the wake of the militant activities of the Ram Sene. Another former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, who recently joined the Congress, is being considered for the Shimoga Lok Sabha seat.
The Congress may give the nod to former AICC general secretary Margaret Alva to contest from Dharwar.
Alva had to quit as AICC general secretary in the wake of the controversy she raised with her sensational charge that the Congress had sold the party tickets in Karnataka Assembly elections last year.
Apparently, Alva indicated her preference for Bangalore (Central), but the party may not oblige her, as the seat has already become contentious.
Former Union Minister and Karnataka Congress strongman C K Jaffer Sharief has also been eyeing the seat, but already the party has made a commitment to H T Sangliana that he would be given the seat.
