Bengaluru: The Congress high command cleared the names of party backward classes unit leader M C Venugopal and minority face Naser Ahmed for the state legislative council by-polls scheduled on October.

According to the sources, both of them are the supporters of the DCM Dr G Parameshwara. As per the agreement reached between coalition partners, the JDS and the Congress, the latter will field two candidates while the third seat is allocated for the JDS. With ruling partners enjoying a clear majority of 118 MLAs, all the three seats are expected to be bagged by the partners if there is no cross voting.

But if sources in the party are to be believed, a section of party leaders are upset with the party high command yielding to the pressure of DCM Dr G Parameshwar. “There is the possibility of cross voting by few Lingayat leaders,” said sources.

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