Asked about the seats the JD(S) would seek, party state chief Kumaraswamy said the number isn't a matter, but he would claim winnable seats.
JD(S) delegates meeting PM Modi (X)
Karnataka JD(S) president HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday, 21 December, said his party and the BJP will complete their talks regarding seat-sharing in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by the end of January 2024.
Kumaraswamy, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with JD(S) national president HD Deve Gowda, said that the matter was discussed during the meeting on Thursday.
“Seat-sharing (talks) between the two parties will be completed comfortably by the end of January. There will be no hurdle in that,” Kumaraswamy told reporters in New Delhi.
When asked how many seats the JD(S) will seek, the former chief minister said, “The number of seats does not matter, we will claim winnable seats.”
The alliance with the BJP has been formed to give a befitting reply to the Congress, which wants to finish the JD(S) in Karnataka, he said.
The JD(S) won one Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 general elections when it contested in alliance with Congress. Sources said the party is likely to ask for at least four to five seats for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
On the Congress’ allegations that the BJP is trying to destabilise its government in Karnataka, Kumaraswamy said, “Anything is possible. In Karnataka, too, there are Ajit Pawar and (Eknath) Shinde,” referring to NCP leaders who split from the party led by Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra and joined hands with BJP.
Kumaraswamy accused the Congress of double standards, saying that while it has been raising the issue of Parliament security breach, it ignored the security lapse that occurred in the Karnataka Assembly in July.
“One unnamed person sat on an MLA’s chair for an hour, while the Assembly session was going on in Karnataka. Why did the Congress friends not raise the issue at that time? Here in the Parliament, they are raising the (issue of) security breach to stall the proceedings,” he said.
Kumaraswamy also targeted Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over his remarks on the importance of having a strong Opposition and alleged that attempts were being made to finish the JD(S) in the state.
“Does he mean that there should be a strong Opposition at the Centre and not in the state?” he asked.
In the meeting with Modi, Kumaraswamy said he raised several issues concerning Karnataka, including a demand for increasing the minimum support price for copra amid falling prices and inclusion of the Kaadu Gollaru community in the Scheduled Tribes list, so that its members can avail reservation benefits.
Deve Gowda’s second son and MLA HD Revanna, as well as his grandson Prajwal Revanna, who is an MP from Hassan, accompanied him for the meeting with Modi at his residence.
The JD(S) joined the BJP-led NDA in September after HD Kumaraswamy had met with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in New Delhi. JD(S)’s decision to join hands with the BJP came after its abysmal performance in the May 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, state BJP President BY Vijayendra, also travelling to Delhi, added to speculation about seat-sharing talks. Vijayendra said he was going to the national capital to attend a party meeting.
“On 22 and 23 December, there is a meeting of all state presidents of the party in Delhi, so I’m going to attend it. During the visit, naturally, I will try to meet all party leaders and the national president (Nadda) and try to discuss the appointment of state office-bearers of the party,” he said.
Vijayendra, too, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi hours after HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy called on the Prime Minister.
Asked about talks on seat sharing with the JD(S), Vijayendra said, both parties are in alliance, but there is no information about JD(S)’ expectations, as to how many seats they want to contest in the Lok Sabha polls.
“They (JD(S) leaders) will discuss everything with our national leaders, we (state BJP) will also discuss with them. There have been no preliminary discussions on seat sharing yet. What JD(S) demands are will be discussed by the national leadership and the state unit will share its opinion,” he said.
Vijayendra said he was going to Delhi now to attend the meeting of BJP state presidents meeting and has no information on any seat-sharing talks.
The regional party is demanding at least four Parliamentary seats for the general polls. Other than Hassan and Mandya, JD(S) is eyeing the Mysuru, Kolar (SC), Raichur (ST), and Vijayapura (SC) constituencies — all of them currently being represented by the BJP.
However, it is not an easy task for the JD(S) as BJP MPs Pratap Simha and Ramesh Jigajinagi from Mysuru and Vijayapura, respectively, are not willing to give up their seats, sources told South First.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won a record 25 out of the 28 Parliamentary seats, where the Congress, JD(S), and an independent had won one each. The JD(S) and Congress jointly fought the 2019 Lok Sabha.
Among the South Indian states, Karnataka has the highest number of BJP parliamentarians.
The regional party is planning to demand only those seats with a consolidated vote base, especially the old Mysuru region, and one constituency each in Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka.
JD(S) senior leader and former minister SR Mahesh told South First: “The party leadership is planning to demand four Lok Sabha seats. Hassan, Mandya, Kolar, and either Mysuru or Raichur.”
“We are demanding these seats because the party has a strong base in these constituencies, and there are high chances of emerging victorious. We have held talks with BS Yediyurappa and are yet to meet the BJP high command regarding seat-sharing equations,” said Mahesh, hinting that the talks between the two parties will likely be held in a month.
(With PTI inputs)
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