After State Win, Cold Feet In Karnataka Congress Over National Battle

Several ministers of Karnataka -- which is also the home state of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge -- have already turned down the request to contest, sources said.

Karnataka's ruling Congress is having trouble finding candidates to field in the Lok Sabha elections. Sources told NDTV that several ministers of the state -- which is also the home state of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge -- have already turned down the request to contest. Reason: No one wants to leave positions of power in the state and dive into uncertainty, sources indicated.

In the 2019 general election, the BJP won 25 seats, the Congress won one and HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal secular, which is currently in alliance with the BJP, won one seat. One seat went to an Independent, supported by the BJP.

This time, with the party's victory in the state in last year's assembly election and good response to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress is hoping for a change in fortune.