JDS exploring options: With the commencement of the race for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls already, political parties have started exploring their best options to stick to ahead of the general elections. A number of old alliances are witnessing a fall and new coalitions are emerging. In this regard, former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, who did not attend the first joint opposition meeting in Patna, is now mulling joining hands with the NDA and is waiting for the formal invitation, sources said on Monday (July 17).
However, the JD(S) leader has put forth a condition to join the BJP-led alliance, sources said.
“Kumaraswamy has put forward the proposal to allot his party the post of Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka Assembly in exchange for joining the NDA,” sources said.
When asked about the invitation from the BJP camp, the JD(S) leader said, “NDA has not invited our party for any meeting. We will see on that front.”
He also slammed the joint Opposition which is meeting in Bengaluru for two days starting today to chalk out strategy to take on the BJP next year and said that they never considered his party as part of them.
“Opposition never considered JD(S) a part of them. So, there is no question of JD(S) being a party of any Mahagathbandhan,” he said.
Slamming his remark, Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao alleged that JD(S) has no ideology and has had alliances with the BJP earlier.
"...We know that for JD(S), secular politics is something which they don't truly believe in. They have always had alliances with BJP even before. So, this is nothing new. I think the tag of Janata Dal (Secular) needs to go. They should accept that they will do anything for the sake of power. They have no principles, no ideology. Only power matters to them and Mr Kumaraswamy. I think it will have a deep impact on JD(S) in Karnataka...It will be the end of JD(S) in Karnataka," he said.
Changing alliance dynamics
Amid the Opposition unity bid, the BJP has strategised to induct some key leaders who have public influence or have a significant say over their respective communities.
In the process, the latest induction was Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party President Om Prakash Rajbhar who joined the NDA on Sunday (July 16). Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed about the development and also welcomed into the NDA.
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BJP national president JP Nadda has called a meeting of the NDA allies on July 18 at a hotel in Delhi. Those parties which are likely to go forward as part of the alliance are likely to attend the meeting. The BJP has also sent the invitation to Jitan Ram Manjhi who recently joined the NDA, Chirag Paswan who has expressed his desire to be back to the alliance, Upendra Kushwaha and OP Rajbhar.
Earlier this month, Ajit Pawar parted ways from the Opposition ranks and jumped to the ruling side on July 2. He joined the Maharashtra government along with eight other MLAs who were all given the ministerial berths. Pawar was given the post of Deputy Chief Minister. The move brought a quake in state politics just weeks ahead of the Opposition meeting. Sharad Pawar has since then been attempting to meet his party workers in a bid to keep his flock together.
(With ANI inputs)
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