Bengaluru: PM Narendra Modi and former Karnataka CM H D Kumaraswamy will decide how best BJP and JD (S) can leverage each other’s strengths for the Lok Sabha battle against Congress in Karnataka next year, former PM HD Deve Gowda said while putting the seal on speculation about his party playing the saffron hand.
The JD (S) national president’s confirmation of the tie-up came two days after after former Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa talked about a prepoll understanding before the two sides could make a formal announcement.
Deve Gowda told reporters that BJP and JD(S) were starting out on “an equal footing” in the state. “A final meeting between HDK (Deve Gowda’s son) and Modi will decide the seats we will contest,” he said.
“BJP has a vote base in Mysuru, Mandya and Ramanagara. Do not discount JD(S) strength as well. The former PM said he had already “made this clear” in my meetings with the BJP leadership, including Modi.
A whiff of resentment among a section of JD(S) legislators soon after Deve Gowda’s announcement threatened to queer the pitch for a seat-sharing deal. JD(S)’s Gurmitkal MLA Sharanagouda Kandakur said the tie up doesn’t bode well for the future of the regional party. Some BJP functionaries too reacted cautiously. “BJP will weigh the pros and cons before taking a final call,” former BJP national general secretary C T Ravi said.