Amid 26 Opposition parties coming together under a new coalition, Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Friday said the JD (S) has decided to work together as an opposition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka.
In Karnataka, Congress is in power and the BJP and JD (S) are in the Opposition. There was no pre- or post-poll alliance between the two parties.
Kumaraswamy said that the JD (S) has decided to work with the BJP in the interest of Karnataka.
Kumaraswamy said that JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has authorised him to take any final decision regarding the party, reported PTI, adding that he also said that there is still time for Parliament polls to talk about it.
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Kumaraswamy made the statement when responding to a question on the discussions in the JD (S) legislature party meeting on Thursday.
"I have already said both inside and outside the assembly, as both BJP and JD(S) are opposition parties, it has been decided to work together in the interest of the state. Even today morning, MLAs of our party discussed how to go ahead," said Kumaraswamy.
In the legislature party meeting, Kumaraswamy said Gowda has advised that after gathering the opinion all the leaders, a 10-member team has to be formed with representation from all communities, for the party organisation and to raise the voice against the misdeeds of this (Congress) government in all the 31 districts, reported PTI.
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"Still there is 11 months for Parliament elections. Let's see when Parliament election comes. It was advised to organise the party. Also, Deve Gowda has said that he has authorised me to take any final decision regarding the party," said Kumaraswamy, as per PTI.
During 2018-19, the Congress-JD (S) were in a coalition government in Karnataka and Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister in 2019 when the government collapsed after a string of resignations in both the parties. In the Karnataka assembly elections 2023, the Congress swept to power with 135 seats and pushed the BJP's down to 66 seats and the JD (S) came a distant third with 19 seats. JD(S) has one MP each in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
