<p>Tussle over the Tumkur Lok Sabha seat continued Wednesday as Congress MP SP Muddahanumegowda refused to budge from his decision to contest the upcoming election.</p>.<p>Congress leaders have been trying to convince Muddahanumegowda to withdraw his nomination. The Tumkur seat has been conceded to the JD(S) as part of the seat-sharing arrangement. Muddahanumegowda, however, is hurt that all other seats having incumbent party MPs have been retained by the party, except Tumkur. JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda is contesting from Tumkur.</p>.<p>“I was disowned during election time and it’s a painful matter. Party leaders have tried talking to me, but I haven’t said I will withdraw my nomination. There’s pressure from my constituents to contest and they’ve assured me that I will win,” Muddahanumegowda told a local news channel.</p>.<p>“There’s time till 3 pm on Friday for them to announce me as the common candidate of the alliance. Otherwise, I have anyway filed two sets of nomination - one as a Congress candidate and another as an Independent,” he said.</p>.<p>According to sources, Congress leaders are finding it difficult to establish communication with Muddahanumegowda. However, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara told reporters in Tumakuru: “Muddahanumegowda has responded favourably. I have confidence in him. I have spoken to him earlier. Siddaramaiah has also spoken to him.”</p>.<p>Muddahanumegowda’s supporter, former legislator K N Rajanna has also filed his nomination papers as an Independent. He has said he will withdraw from the fray only if Muddahanumegowda also withdrew.</p>.<p>If Muddahanumegowda goes ahead with his candidature, Tumkur could become a tough seat for Deve Gowda to win, according to sources in the Congress. “The BJP has fielded GS Basavaraju, who is a Lingayat. If the BJP had fielded a Vokkaliga, it’d have been different,” a Congress leader said.</p>.<p>On Tuesday, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said the JD(S) had sought either Mysore or Tumkur, and the party chose to retain the BJP-held Mysore where he said the Congress had a better chance at winning. </p>.<p>Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara held a meeting of Congress and JD(S) leaders in Tumakuru on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters later, he said that a joint meeting of the workers of both the parties would be held on April 1. Congress-JD(S) coalition candidate H D Deve Gowda will hold first phase of campaign on April 4 and 5, he said.</p>
<p>Tussle over the Tumkur Lok Sabha seat continued Wednesday as Congress MP SP Muddahanumegowda refused to budge from his decision to contest the upcoming election.</p>.<p>Congress leaders have been trying to convince Muddahanumegowda to withdraw his nomination. The Tumkur seat has been conceded to the JD(S) as part of the seat-sharing arrangement. Muddahanumegowda, however, is hurt that all other seats having incumbent party MPs have been retained by the party, except Tumkur. JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda is contesting from Tumkur.</p>.<p>“I was disowned during election time and it’s a painful matter. Party leaders have tried talking to me, but I haven’t said I will withdraw my nomination. There’s pressure from my constituents to contest and they’ve assured me that I will win,” Muddahanumegowda told a local news channel.</p>.<p>“There’s time till 3 pm on Friday for them to announce me as the common candidate of the alliance. Otherwise, I have anyway filed two sets of nomination - one as a Congress candidate and another as an Independent,” he said.</p>.<p>According to sources, Congress leaders are finding it difficult to establish communication with Muddahanumegowda. However, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara told reporters in Tumakuru: “Muddahanumegowda has responded favourably. I have confidence in him. I have spoken to him earlier. Siddaramaiah has also spoken to him.”</p>.<p>Muddahanumegowda’s supporter, former legislator K N Rajanna has also filed his nomination papers as an Independent. He has said he will withdraw from the fray only if Muddahanumegowda also withdrew.</p>.<p>If Muddahanumegowda goes ahead with his candidature, Tumkur could become a tough seat for Deve Gowda to win, according to sources in the Congress. “The BJP has fielded GS Basavaraju, who is a Lingayat. If the BJP had fielded a Vokkaliga, it’d have been different,” a Congress leader said.</p>.<p>On Tuesday, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah said the JD(S) had sought either Mysore or Tumkur, and the party chose to retain the BJP-held Mysore where he said the Congress had a better chance at winning. </p>.<p>Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara held a meeting of Congress and JD(S) leaders in Tumakuru on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters later, he said that a joint meeting of the workers of both the parties would be held on April 1. Congress-JD(S) coalition candidate H D Deve Gowda will hold first phase of campaign on April 4 and 5, he said.</p>
