Decisions on the Lok Sabha elections are likely to be made based on the JD(S)'s performance in the upcoming local body elections.
Published Jul 23, 2023 | 11:42 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 24, 2023 | 2:49 AM
JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda said his party would not join hands either with NDA or INDIA.
The Janata Dal (Secular) is likely to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on its own, without joining hands with either the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or the Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
Ever since the Congress did not extend an invite to the JD(S) for its Opposition meeting held in Bengaluru, there were strong speculations in the political arena that the Deve Gowda-led regional party might join hands with the NDA.
However, the party was also reportedly not invited to the recently held NDA meet — held in Delhi on 18 July to mark 25 years of the alliance.
A total of 38 political parties from across the country participated in the meeting.
JD(S) supremo and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda recently put a temporary stop on the rumours about the party joining hands with BJP in the general elections.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the JD(S) was an ally of the Congress and contested eight out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. It managed to win only one seat: Hassan.
Deve Gowda asserted that his party would join hands with neither the NDA nor the INDIA, and instead fight independently in next year’s Lok Sabha elections.
The former prime minister chaired a JD(S) Legislature Party meeting at a private hotel in Bengaluru on 20 July.
In the meeting, Deve Gowda is said to have held a detailed discussion on the party’s active participation in the Assembly and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
After the meeting, Deve Gowda told reporters: “Ours is a regional party. All the members of the Legislative Assembly held a meeting. There is a discussion going on about the strategies to sustain our regional party.”
He added: “I have met everyone and provided them with advice on the way forward. On one side, there is the NDA, and on the other side, there is the INDIA.”
He also said: “I have shared my experiences with them. HD Kumaraswamy is the leader of the JD(S) Legislature Party and is actively involved in the party’s work. I have offered my advice to him as well.”
On the reports that the JD(S) was likely to join NDA, Deve Gowda said: “I am well aware of the state of national politics. It is essential to sustain our party for the welfare of the people of our state.”
He added: “We will fight for the rights of our party and present all injustices before the public to prove Karnataka’s capabilities. We are not interested in political gains or appearances. We fight for the betterment of people’s lives.”
Deve Gowda also said: “There is no alliance neither with the NDA, nor with the UPA (INDIA). We will fight independently.”
On the JD(S) extending support to the BJP in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, the former prime minister pointed out: “Kumaraswamy had tweeted about the ruling Congress government misusing government machinery. The BJP took it up and fought in the Assembly. The BJP and the JD(S) were aligned on this issue. The BJP has the numerical strength, and it was protesting based on Kumaraswamy’s tweet.”
However, he also said: “There is no alliance or relationship between the JD(S) and the BJP. The BJP will fight its battle, and we will fight ours.”
It may be noted that in the recently concluded budget session, which was held from 3 to 21 July, the JD(S) had announced support to the BJP after the 10 MLAs from the saffron cadre were suspended for indecency in the House.
Kumaraswamy and HD Revanna also accompanied the BJP leaders when the latter met Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot to complain about the ruling Congress government for alleged misuse of government machinery.
As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections draw near, the JD(S) is planning to contest only five to seven seats in Karnataka.
In the previous Lok Sabha elections, the party had contested eight seats but managed to win only one: Hassan.
On condition of anonymity, a senior JD(S) leader told South First: “A couple of meetings have been held by the party headship on the Lok Sabha elections. The party is planning to contest only in five to seven seats.”
The leader added: “The party is likely to field candidates in Hassan, which is currently represented by the JD(S)’s Prajwal Revanna. It will also contest Mandya, Tumakuru, and Mysuru. The remaining three constituencies are yet to be finalised.”
He also said: “The first mark for the party is the upcoming Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections. Decisions on the general elections are likely to be made by Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy based on the party’s performance in the local body elections.”
JD(S) leader and former minister Bandeppa Kashempur told South First: “The parliamentary elections are around 10 months away. It is too early to comment publicly about the party’s internal affairs.”
He added: “It is cent percent sure that the party will not join hands with the Congress in next year’s general elections. There are no talks within the cadre even about an electoral tie-up with the BJP. The party is most likely to contest independently.”
