BJP and JD(S) plan joint Karnataka election contests (Img: X)
New Delhi: Emboldened by winning all four Legislative Council seats in the recent polls, the BJP and JD(S) have decided to contest future state elections jointly, including the Greater Bengaluru Authority polls, followed by Zilla Parishad, Taluk and gram panchayat elections as well as urban local body polls.
Top leaders believe the coordinated efforts between the BJP and JD(S) delivered a major setback to the ruling Congress. The results showed that the partners can transfer their support to each other's candidates, and signalled that the alliance remains unified despite internal challenges, sources said.
Though the BJP state unit is faction-ridden and Union Steel Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy had repeatedly complained to BJP high command about difficulties working with it, the MLC elections served as a key test of coordination.
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Kumaraswamy remained in constant touch with BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santosh and Union Consumer Affairs Prahlad Joshi for months to strategise against Congress candidates. He also recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president Nitin Nabin to discuss state politics.
Talking to newsmen, Kumaraswamy recalled that from the day, JD(S) joined the NDA, I have said we will fight all state polls only in alliance. I will stick to that. If we fight jointly, we can easily defeat the Congress party easily.
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On the other hand, former BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in Bengaluru met JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and reviewed the MLC results and felt the need for future cooperation in the coming local body elections also, sources said.
