Winnability will be criteria in seat sharing with JD(S): Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Feb 25: As ruling coalition partners in Karnataka began parleys on seat sharing for Lok Sabha polls, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Monday said winnability will be the criteria.
The leader of the Congress Legislature party also ruled out his contesting the parliamentary polls and said, he would like to continue in state politics.
"There is hope that there will be agreement on seat sharing... no ratio, who will win from where is important," Siddaramaiah, who is also the head of Congress-JD(S) coordination committee told reporters in Hubballi.
Pointing out that the first meeting on seat sharing is on between coalition partners, he said, KPCC chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara from the Congress' side; JD(S) state chief H Vishwanath and PWD Minister H D Revanna from the regional party's side will be holding discussions today.
"I will then call a coordination committee meeting, where we will discuss again," he added.
Congress and JD(S) as per their coalition arrangement have decided to fight the Lok Sabha polls together.
However, seat sharing is likely to be a major test for both parties as JD(S) banking on two-third, one-third formula adopted in ministry formation and allocation of boards and corporations, has demanded for 10 to 12 seats out of the total 28.
The Congress is opposed to this, and has maintained that sharing of seats will be based on "merit".
Also, there is pressure from within the Congress not to cede too many seats to JD(S), specially ten seats where the party has sitting MPs.
Sharing of seats from old Mysuru region is expected to be an acid test for both parties, as JD(S) considers it as its bastion, and the Congress has its sitting members from most of the seats there.
The Vokkaliga bastion of Mandya will be another bone of contention between the coalition partners as JD(S) has plans to field Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil from the seat that it currently holds, while there is growing pressure within the Congress to field Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of late actor-turned-politician M H Ambareesh.
Noting that Sumalatha had met and told him that she was under pressure from party workers in Mandya and Ambareesh's fans to contest the Lok Sabha polls from there, Siddaramaiah said, "I have told her that we are yet to discuss seat sharing, and would discuss with her after that."
The Congress is hopeful of gaining the seat banking on Ambaressh's popularity in the region and sympathy wave by fielding his wife Sumalatha, who is also a popular south Indian actress.
There are also talks about Sumalatha contesting independently, if the JD(S) does not give up the seat to Congress in her favour.
Siddaramaiah also denied reports that he was shifting to national politics.
"I won't contest from anywhere, whether it is Koppal or Dharwad or Mysuru. I won't contest from anywhere," he said in response to a question about him contesting from Koppal.
Asked what his decision would be if the high command asked him to contest, he said, "The high command won't tell me (to contest)."
"I am in state politics now, I will continue there," he added.
Responding to a question about the delay in SIT probe into an audio clip containing purported conversation to lure a JD(S) MLA, involving state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa, Siddaramaiah said, it is for the Chief Minister to decide, as he had announced it on the floor of the assembly.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
