Bengaluru, (DHNS) : JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, considered the ‘pitamaha’ of the JD(S)-Congress combine, on Tuesday stressed that efforts would be made to iron out the differences between
the cadres of the two parties at the grassroots, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Soon after the results of the bypolls were announced, the JD(S) supremo said that leaders of both parties would take the local leaders into confidence before finalising candidates in the
28 parliamentary constituencies.

“The JD(S) and the Congress have decided to fight the Lok Sabha elections together. We will make sure that the leaders of both parties will work unitedly,” he said.

Though the Congress and the JD(S) have a history of breakups and patch-ups, its rivalry at the grassroots, especially in constituencies like Mandya and Ramanagara, is legendary.

The animosity came to the fore even during the bypolls with local Congress leaders taking exception to JD(S) candidates being fielded in the two constituencies.

Though the coalition candidates - Anitha Kumaraswamy and L R Shivaramegowda - have won from Ramanagara and Mandya, respectively, the undercurrents are very much there,
which has come as a worry to the two parties.

In Mandya, Congress leaders refused to even campaign for Shivaramegowda, forcing the top leaders, including Deve Gowda, to intervene and pacify them.

“Whatever difference was there between the Congress and the JD(S), it's now in the past. We have decided to forget everything and move on. This has become the final battle of my
life,” Gowda added.

The former prime minister also said that the impending second round of Cabinet expansion and appointments to boards and corporations would happen soon.

“There will not be any more delays. Congress leader K C Venugopal has come to Bengaluru.

The chief minister and Venugopal will hold discussions and expand the Cabinet shortly.

Appointments to the boards and corporations too will happen soon,” said Gowda.