The JD(S) is likely to continue its tacit understanding with the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections due next year. However, the JD(S) may not become an ally in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance due to political compulsions at its home turf.
“Our main aim is to defeat the Congress in coming Lok Sabha elections. The JD(S) has launched a dharma yuddha against them. Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, talk of winning at least 20 of the 28 seats in Karnataka. We want to restrict that number to five or six,” a senior JD(S) leader told Express.
Since the JD(S) has limited strength, it is taking the support of other parties. “Once the byelections on August 21 and 22 are over, we will sit with all like-minded parties to work out a strategy,” the leader noted.
“The JD(S) welcomes all those who want to join hands to trounce the Congress in Karnataka. Our common enemy is Congress and we will not allow it to grow. In 2009 LS polls, the JD(S) and Congress had an internal understanding because of which the latter was able to win 10 seats. Instead of thanking us, Congress leaders are practicing vengeance politics. We will answer to them in a same coin,” he added. The leader claimed that the Congress won Chamarajnagar, Mysore, Gulbarga, Kolar and Chikballapur LS seats mainly due to the support extended by the JD(S) by fielding weak candidates. At that time, the JD(S) wanted to teach a lesson to the BJP because of which they supported the Congress. “We fielded not so strong candidates in those constituencies, including those from where three union ministers, Mallikarjun Kharge, K H Muniyappa, M Veerappa Moily won in 2009 polls. Had we fielded strong candidates, those leaders would have lost the elections by a big margin,” he pointed out.
The leader said that the JD(S) has reservations in becoming a new ally of the NDA. “We are not averse to have an alliance with the BJP to reduce the strength of the Congress in Karnataka, but political compulsions will not allow us to join the NDA,” he stated.
“Of late, it has become a practice for Congress leaders to target former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and his family. After the Congress came to power, their leaders have become so arrogant that they dictate deputy commissioners and superintendents of police in their respective districts. There is a sense of lawlessness in the state. That can be curbed only by defeating Congress candidates in all the elections,” he added.
When contacted, a senior BJP leader said any proposal that comes from the JD(S) will be discussed with the Delhi leaders before taking any decision. Since the BJP’s aim is also to root out Congress, they have no objection in continuing the ‘understanding’ till the next LS polls, he added.