BJP offers Cabinet berth in ‘Modi government’ to JD(S)’ HD Kumaraswamy amidst seat-sharing talks in Karnataka

In a separate but related development, the BJP high command is insisting on Kumaraswamy to contest in the upcoming general elections to the Lok Sabha.

“It is true that Kumaraswamy has been offered a Cabinet berth in the Modi government. The BJP also urged him to contest the Lok Sabha elections. However, Kumaraswamy is not keen on accepting the Cabinet offer since hardly two months are left for the general elections,” a JD(S) senior leader told South First.

“What will I do by becoming a Union minister, if the code of conduct comes into effect in February,” Kumaraswamy replied when asked about the offer on Sunday by reporters.

Meanwhile, the JD(S) remained optimistic about securing a minimum of four seats in the seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP for Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka.

It may be noted that BJP represents 25 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats, while Congress, JD(S), and an independent are representing one each. The independent MP – Sumalatha Ambareesh from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency – has extended her support to BJP.

Related: HD Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy meet PM Narendra Modi

Kumaraswamy to visit Delhi

The BJP offered a Cabinet berth to Kumaraswamy even as it has been engaged in seat-sharing discussions with the JD(S) ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

A former JD(S) minister from the old-Mysore region confirmed that the BJP had made the offer. “The BJP high command has offered a Cabinet post to Kumaraswamy. There are also talks about a reshuffle of the Union Cabinet after the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya,” he told South First, requesting anonymity.

ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರಕಾರದ ಮಾನ್ಯ ಕೃಷಿ ಮತ್ತು ಬುಡಕಟ್ಟು ವ್ಯವಹಾರಗಳ ಖಾತೆ ಸಚಿವರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ @MundaArjun ಅವರು ಮಾಜಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿಗಳಾದ ಮಾನ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀ @H_D_Devegowda ಅವರ ನಿವಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಿದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಡುಗೊಲ್ಲ ಸಮುದಾಯವನ್ನು ಎಸ್ ಟಿ ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿಸುವುದು, ರಾಜ್ಯದ ತೆಂಗು ಬೆಳೆಗಾರರಿಂದ ಕೊಬರಿ ಖರೀದಿ ಹಾಗೂ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಎದುರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಬರ… pic.twitter.com/FvvXYeTIM2

— ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ.ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ | H.D.Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) January 7, 2024

“Union Minister Arjun Munda invited Kumaraswamy to Delhi on 15 and 16 January to discuss the matter. However, Kumaraswamy is not keen on accepting since barely a few months are left for the general elections,” the JD(S) leader added.

“However, Kumaraswamy will make the final call during his visit to the national capital. The BJP believes that this will boost the party’s prospects in the parliament elections,” he added.

Responding to the development, Kumaraswamy said Munda had invited him to the national capital: “I will go to Delhi. I never thought of becoming a Union minister.”

“We aim to emerge victorious in all the 28 Lok Sabha seats and ensure the defeat of the Congress. I don’t have any idea about the BJP offering a Cabinet post to me. What will I do by becoming the Union minister as the election code of conduct will be in place from February,” the JD(S) president said.

Related: JD(S) Karnataka president HD Kumaraswamy meets Rajnath Singh

BJP wants Kumaraswamy in the fray

Meanwhile, the BJP central leadership reportedly asked Kumaraswamy to contest the Lok Sabha polls.

Even the JD(S) leaders are pressuring the former chief minister to contest either from Mysuru or Mandya, party sources said.

“The BJP high command is asking Kumaraswamy to contest the Lok Sabha polls. They are seriously pursuing this matter. The saffron cadre believes that Kumaraswamy’s candidature will boost the party’s prospects in the polls,” JD(S) leader Sa Ra Mahesh told South First.

“We are urging him to contest either from Mysuru or Mandya, where the party has a strong base. He is yet to reveal his mind. He is most likely to contest in the parliamentary elections,” Mahesh said, adding that he is not in the race for a party ticket.

Kumaraswamy said he is yet to make a call on his candidature. “I have not yet decided. My friends are insisting that I should contest from Bengaluru Rural, Mandya, Chikkaballapur, or Tumakuru,” he told reporters.

“I will announce the constituency when the time is right. If Mandya’s MP (Sumalatha Ambareesh) continues with the BJP, I am ready to meet her also. We will decide on holding talks with the BJP leaders,” the former chief minister hinted that he will be contesting the polls.

Related: JD(S) to ‘claim winnable seats’, seal the deal with BJP for LS polls by January-end

JD(S) hopeful of getting four seats

The JD(S) is hoping that it could contest from at least four Lok Sabha seats.

JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy have already held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other central BJP leaders regarding seat sharing.

“In a recent meeting with Prime Minister Modi, the party leaders discussed the sharing of seats. The leaders from both the parties are still in the process of finalising the seats,” Mahesh said.

“Initially, we planned to demand eight seats. We are confident of getting at least four seats: Kolar, Hassan, Chikkaballapur and Mysuru or Mandya,” he said.

“We are not contesting in North Karnataka because of financial difficulties. The seat sharing will be finalised in a month or two. We will abide by the decision of Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy,” Mahesh added.