Rift in BJP-JD(S) alliance? Don't neglect us, HDK tells saffron unit

A meeting of JD(S) core committee members, observers to all the Lok Sabha constituencies, district presidents, and sitting and former MLAs was held on Monday in the presence of the party's national President H D Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy.

Bengaluru: In the first clear sign that all is not well within the alliance, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday asked the BJP not to "neglect" the JD(S).

"If we are neglected, there will be effects. We must be cordial and work with unity," Kumaraswamy said after the JD(S) core committee meeting. "If we have to reach our goal, the JD(S) will cooperate. We expect the same cooperation from BJP."

The trigger for Kumaraswamy's disgruntlement with the alliance is the BJP's reluctance to give the Kolar Lok Sabha constituency to the JD(S). BJP's S Muniswamy is the incumbent MP.

Kumaraswamy declared that the JD(S) will field its candidates in Mandya, Hassan, and Kolar. He said this even as the BJP and JD(S) are yet to formally agree on sharing seats.

At the meeting, JD(S) workers raised the issue of Kolar and urged party supremo H D Deve Gowda not to give this seat up. Gowda assured them that he would speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sort it out.

"We did not ask for 6-7 seats. We have asked for 3-4 seats. They (BJP) know what our strength is. To get just two seats, do we need an alliance? In Mandya and Hassan, JD(S) can win on its own even if there is a triangular contest," Kumaraswamy said.

According to Kumaraswamy, some JD(S) leaders at the meeting said it is the BJP that benefits from the alliance. "In 18 Lok Sabha seats, a swing of 3-4 per cent in JD(S) votes will help the BJP candidates. The BJP high command should know this. They should make use of this. Otherwise, we can't be held responsible for any damage," he said.

Kumaraswamy also pointed out that the JD(S) is ahead of BJP in parts of some North Karnataka constituencies such as Bijapur and Gulbarga.

Sources said Kumaraswamy is disappointed that there was no big show that was put up to herald the BJP-JD(S) alliance.