Former PM H D Deve Gowda.
Credit: PTI File Photo
The JD(S) on Sunday finally cleared the air and confirmed its alliance with the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, with party supremo H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy making fervent appeals to workers to back their decision.
At a party workers' convention in Bengaluru, Deve Gowda said he recently met the BJP top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Yes, it is true that I met the Prime Minister and other BJP leaders. The meeting was to save the party," he said.
On the thorny issue of selection of constituencies, Deve Gowda had nothing concrete to say and merely added that nothing has been finalised yet. Though he disclosed that he had explained to BJP leaders about the constituencies where JD(S) has potential.
"We have not asked for any seats in particular; even they have not. I clearly explained during the meeting that mutual respect is important for both the parties. I even told them that they could win Bidar, Raichur and Bijapur with the support of my party," Gowda said.
However Deve Gowda said the final call and further discussions will be taken by Kumaraswamy. "Whichever constituencies the BJP gives us, I will personally tour and campaign," Gowda added.
Supporting his father's statement, Kumaraswamy said the 2006 BJP-JD(S) coalition in the state was one of the best governments in Karnataka.
"There is a need to start a new chapter and I request all my party workers to trust me. I will ensure that the party's honour will not be damaged at any point," Kumaraswamy said.
On the question of ideology raised by various Congress leaders, Kumaraswamy said that the JD(S) is the only party which protects the interest of minorities, even if it is in alliance with the BJP.
JD(S) core committee president, G T Devegowda went a step ahead and said the JD(S) would be allying with the BJP for the BBMP and local bodies elections as well in the coming days.
Taking aim at Siddaramaiah, Devegowda also claimed that the Congress leader was all set to join the BJP when B S Yediyurappa was the chief minister. "Siddaramaiah demanded the finance minister's post in the Yediyurappa Cabinet," claimed Devegowda.
Siddaramaiah not AHINDA leader
Criticising Siddaramaiah's statement on ideology, HD Deve Gowda wondered what the Congress is doing against Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. "Where is your ideology? Who resolved the Idga issue? What is your party doing in West Bengal?" he said. He said that Siddaramaiah has no morality to discuss the ideology of the JD(S).
Getting emotional during his speech Deve Gowda said that he struggled to save the party for 40 years and that it is not easy to build a regional party. "I request people of Karnataka to save the regional party" Gowda said with folded hands.