In Karnataka, JD(S) leader and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda held a meeting of senior party leaders in Bengaluru today on fielding its candidates in the assembly by-election necessitated by the disqualification of 17 MLAs by the former Speaker.

The meeting derives significance after the statement made by former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy yesterday in K R Pet that the party will field candidates in all the 17 constituencies.

The Congress too has decided to prepare the party for by-elections to 17 constituencies. The state President of Congress, Dinesh Gundu Rao had informed media persons last Thursday that a team headed by senior leaders will hold discussion with the party workers on the strengths of the organisation and prepare a strategy for the by-election.