In September last year, the JDS formed an alliance with the BJP in Karnataka and officially joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).As the countdown to the Lok Sabha election has begun, the BJP has finalised a seat-sharing agreement with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka. Under this arrangement, it’s understood that the HD Deve Gowda-led party has secured three seats.
Sources reveal that the JDS will be fielding candidates in Karnataka’s Mandya, Hassan, and Kolar. Deve Gowda’s son-in-law CN Manjunath will be backed by the BJP in Bangalore Rural.
This development follows concerns expressed by JDS leaders regarding the BJP’s announcement of candidates for 20 out of the state’s 28 Lok Sabha seats. During discussions with former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and his son, senior JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, party leaders highlighted the lack of inclusion in the BJP’s election planning. They noted the absence of invitations to crucial meetings, which they deemed detrimental to the party’s interests.
Kumaraswamy had warned that the JDS would independently announce candidates if the agreed-upon three seats were not secured.
Kolar is presently held by the BJP, Hassan by the JDS, and Mandya by an Independent candidate. Prajwal Revanna of the JDS holds the seat in Hassan, while Mandya is represented by Sumalatha Ambareesh, supported by the BJP. BJP’s S Muniraju represents Kolar.
The JDS has already nominated Revanna as its candidate for Hassan. There are indications that former minister CS Puttaraju might receive the ticket from Mandya. However, the candidate for Kolar is yet to be finalized.
The negotiations between the JDS and BJP for seat-sharing encountered a deadlock over the Kolar constituency. While the BJP sought to retain the seat based on its previous win, the JDS adamantly refused to settle for anything less than three seats.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP claimed victory in 25 of the state’s 28 seats, while the Congress and the JDS managed one seat each. The JDS contested in seven constituencies but secured victory only in Hassan, which has been a traditional stronghold of the Gowda family.
Presently, the Congress holds power in Karnataka following its huge victory last year.
In September last year, the JDS, which had allied with the Congress in the previous Assembly election, formed an alliance with the BJP in Karnataka and officially joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This was announced by Kumaraswamy following discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda in New Delhi.