After a series of twists and turns, admissions and denials post Karnataka assembly results that gave Congress party much needed victory, the BJP and JDS whose political fortunes plummeted seem to have finally decided to come together to fight the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2024.
The resurgence of the BJP-JDS alliance has come to the fore with former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, BS Yeddyurappa, disclosing that the party’s central leadership had endorsed the alliance with the JDS. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a key figure in the BJP, also reportedly expressed his support for the partnership. Yeddyurappa stated that this alliance would greatly benefit the BJP’s electoral prospects. The alliance, which had initially sparked excitement but later fizzled out, now seems to have been reignited with the full backing of the high command.
Speaking to media persons after a protest rally at Freedom park in Bengaluru, BSY said: “Amit Shah has agreed to an arrangement to give 4 to 5 seats to the JDS. We will fight the upcoming elections together. This pact has given new strength to the party,’’ he said.
Basavaraja Bommai, another former Chief Minister and prominent BJP leader, emphasized the necessity and importance of the BJP-JDS alliance. He stressed the need for opposition parties to unite against what he referred to as a “corrupt government.” Bommai announced that the decision regarding the distribution of alliance seats would be made by the high command.
In response to the alliance revival, JDS leader and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda demanded that five Lok Sabha constituencies – Hassan, Mandya, Chikkaballapur, Bangalore Rural, and Kolar – be allocated to his party. However, it has been reported that Amit Shah has agreed to concede four of these constituencies for the time being, with the exception of Mandya. Discussions on the allocation of the remaining seat are expected to conclude in the coming days.
The rekindled BJP-JDS alliance signals a united front against the incumbent Congress in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. While the specifics of seat allocation remain pending, the two parties appear determined to challenge the status quo in Karnataka’s political landscape.
Meanwhile Union Parliamentary affairs minister Prahallad Joshi said that he was unaware of these developments but at the same time mentioned that Yediyurappa was the senior most leader from the state and if he had said something then there must have been dialogues with party central leaders.
Reacting to the BSY’s comments, Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D K Shivakumar said: “I don’t know if JDS will survive after the elections. I wish them both all the best’’. Meanwhile Siddaramaiah said he is not perturbed by the new alliance and that it doesn’t make any difference for the Congress Party.
The JDS however has maintained stoic silence over the alliance, however, party sources told this newspaper that everything will be clear very soon.