VIJAYAPURA: Clear indications from the JDS about a possible pre-poll alliance with the BJP for the 2028 Assembly elections have stirred up unease within the saffron party’s district unit, particularly among ticket aspirants.
The developments followed the JDS’ Kittur Karnataka regional convention in Vijayapura on February 27, held as part of party’s silver jubilee celebrations, where the leadership signalled its electoral ambitions in four Assembly constituencies of Vijayapura district.
The anxiety in BJP circles comes after Union Minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy and party patriarch HD Deve Gowda publicly endorsed prospective candidates for Nagathan, Indi, Devarahipparagi and Basavanabagewadi Assembly segments. Their gestures were widely interpreted as a formal claim over these constituencies in the event of a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP.
Among the four, Devarahipparagi is currently represented by JDS MLA Rajugouda Patil, strengthening the party’s claim there. In the other three constituencies, the projected faces are former candidates who had earlier lost to the Congress but continue to maintain grassroots networks.
They include Appugouda Managuli from Basavanabagewadi, Devanand Chavan from Nagathan and BD Patil from Indi. By backing both winning and defeated candidates on a single platform, the JDS leadership sought to project organisational readiness ahead of the next polls.
Political observers are of the view that this assertive move has created heartburn among BJP leaders who have nurtured ambitions to contest from these segments. Many local aspirants fear that if an alliance materialises, and JDS insists on contesting all four seats, their prospects could be sacrificed, and they may lose political ground built over years, said one of them.
Asked about his reaction, BJP district president Gurulingappa Angadi said, “Seeking more seats in alliance is the right of the JDS, however, the BJP high command will take the final call. Our aim is to ensure the NDA wins in all eight constituencies of the district.”