Bengaluru,JD(S) leader and Mangaluru-based businessman B M Farookh, who filed his nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls on Friday, expressed hope that the Congress will support him in the interest of the minority community.

"This is in the larger interest of the minority community. If the Congress plays the same game it did during the Rajya Sabha polls in 2016, then it will be a disaster for them. It should not insult me again by opposing my candidature. The minority representation in the Rajya Sabha is limited. It should allow us (minorities) to grow -- in the name of natural justice and equal opportunities to all. Moreover, the Congress should honour its 'give and take' policy with the JD(S). We have extended support to them in the BBMP and during the Nanjangud and Gundlupet byelections. They should do the same for the JD(S) now," Farookh told DH.

Farookh is the younger brother of Congress MLA from Mangalore North B A Mohiuddin Bava.

Farookh said that the JD(S) is optimistic that the Congress will extend him support by not fielding the third candidate.

"My party leader H D Kumaraswamy has signalled to the Congress to support me. JD(S) MP Kupendra Reddy has been holding discussions with senior leaders at the Delhi level. According to him, everybody has responded positively -- he says that the response is good. Many Muslim intellectuals and ulemas have written to Rahul Gandhi asking him to support my candidature," he added.

Farookh said that the Muslim population - the second largest in Karnataka, had already changed its stance towards the Congress after the party's "betrayal" to a minority candidate during the last Rajya Sabha polls.

He said that he had agreed to contest again, as JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda was particular of a minority-Kannadiga representation in the Rajya Sabha.