JD(S) keeps both BJP, Opposition guessing ahead of 2024 polls

The Janata Dal (Secular) may have fared poorly in its stronghold Karnataka in the May Assembly elections, but it remains relevant in state and national politics.

Also Read: How BJP’s Hindutva experiment bombed at electoral box office in Karnataka

Though the JD(S) has been relegated to just 19 seats in the state in its worst showing since its birth in 1999, the party is being wooed by national parties in view of the 2024 Lok Sabha battle.

The JD(S) has forced both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and non-BJP leaders trying to mount a Third Front by bringing together all Opposition parties under a common umbrella to keep their fingers crossed by meeting leaders from both camps.

This is why the recent news of JD(S) deputy leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy meeting senior BJP leaders in New Delhi ignited rumours about a possible tie-up between the JD(S) and BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.

Also read: No discussions at state level on electoral understanding with JD(S) for LS polls: Bommai

Speculations mount

Meanwhile, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on June 7 met JD(S) supremo and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda in Bengaluru in the presence of HD Kumaraswamy and other senior party leaders.

Abdullah, who remained non-committal about this meeting, simply said: “Meetings keep happening till something concrete emerges. But meetings are important, as it will help facilitate and unite the Opposition for the coming elections.”

As for the JD(S), it says it is waiting and watching — and weighing its options.

KA Thippeswamy, a member of the Legislative Council in Karnataka and a spokesperson for the party, told The Federal: “For the time being, the party high command has not taken any decision on going with any political party in the coming Lok Sabha elections. It has been decided that the focus now should be on the coming polls to Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and BBMP. We don’t have time to think about national politics. The need of the hour is to consolidate our cadre and resources in winning more seats in local body polls.”

Also read: Following poor Karnataka poll results, JD(S) to restructure party in a big way: HDK

Deve Gowda

Reactions from Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy have added to the speculation. Kumaraswamy denied his party was seeking an alliance with the BJP. “Such rumours are common in politics. No discussions have been held with BJP leaders and no one has proposed such an alliance with JD(S).”

Deve Gowda retorted: “Show me one party in the country that has done politics without having some kind of relationship with BJP?” He was curt when asked about anti-BJP alliance floated by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

It appears the Congress is not taking the public reaction of JD(S) seriously following its previous experience. Congress leaders are not ruling out the prospects of an election arrangement between the JD(S) and BJP as both came together for political convenience for the first time in 2006-7.

In September last year, Kumaraswamy met Nitish Kumar in Delhi at Deve Gowda’s residence and shared their views on ‘happenings in national politics’. His meeting aimed to get support of the JD(U) in the assembly polls.

Similarly, Kumaraswamy met Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekara Rao and arrived at a consensus that an alternative political front at the national level should be stitched to achieve a BJP-Mukt Bharat in the 2024 general elections.