Bengaluru: Former CM, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah has failed to convince the Congress leaders from Mandya to support the alliance candidate, Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the Lok Sabha elections.

Following complaints by the JDS state leaders that the Congress’ Mandya district unit leaders are supporting independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh in the Lok Sabha election and campaigning for her, Siddu had called this meeting at his residence in Bengaluru. The meeting was held for over an hour and in the meeting, all the defeated candidates of the eight assembly constituencies of the Mandya district participated. They alleged that the JDS leaders are not seeking their help and support, which is the real problem.

But Siddaramaiah directed them to forget the past and work for the alliance candidates. He warned the suspension of those leaders found supporting Sumalatha.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, senior Congress leader from the district, former minister N Cheluvaraya Swamy stated that all the leaders sought time from Siddaramaiah. “We will take a decision after discussing with the activists,” he said.