JDS : When Kumaraswamy became the Chief Minister of Karnataka, he was supported by the Congress and formed the government. However, after the Congress got majority in the last assembly elections, the party did not include JDS in the alliance. After the elections, Kumaraswamy has indicated to join the BJP-led NDA alliance.
JDS
Opposition Meeting: The Bharatiya Janata Party seems to be getting the benefit of the indifference of the Congress to the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka. Congress’s decision to turn its back on JDS chief HD Kumaraswamy ahead of the meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru may benefit the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
When Kumaraswamy became the Chief Minister of Karnataka, he was supported by the Congress and formed the government. However, after the Congress got majority in the last assembly elections, the party did not include JDS in the alliance. After the elections, Kumaraswamy has indicated to join the BJP-led NDA alliance.
On the question of the opposition meeting to be held in Bengaluru, he said that the opposition parties never considered him as their part. In such a situation, if there is talk of alliance with BJP, then it can be considered. With this, he outright rejected the question of going to the meeting of the opposition parties.
Here, senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai indicated talks regarding Janata Dal (Secular) joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Former chief minister Bommai said the outcome of the discussion would determine future political developments. Responding to a question on the possibility of JDS joining the NDA, Bommai said, “It depends on the discussion between our leadership and JDS President H D Deve Gowda.”
Congress, which is in power in the state, said that its allegation on JDS of being BJP’s ‘B-Team’ has now been proved. The Congress took a dig at the development, calling the JDS an “opportunistic party” ready to join hands with anyone for power.
He told reporters here that JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy has expressed some sentiments and the discussion will continue in that direction. “The future political developments will be based on the results of those discussions,” he said.
Recently, there have been enough indications from the leaders of the BJP and JD(S) of an understanding between the two parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. BJP stalwart BS Yeddyurappa had said that his party and the JD(S) would together fight the Congress government in the state. Kumaraswamy had said that the decision on the electoral pact for the Lok Sabha elections would be taken on time.
There were reports that Kumaraswamy had met some senior BJP leaders during his recent visit to New Delhi. The BJP won 25 of the total 28 seats in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, while one seat was won by its supported independent candidate. Congress and JD(S) won one seat each.
Health Minister and former Congress state chief Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “We have said many times that JDS is the B-team of BJP. Now, Kumaraswamy is going to demonstrate that our words are true. He said that JDS has no ideology. He said, what is the ideology of JDS that the communal party is going to align with BJP? It is an opportunistic party.”
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