JDS-BJP Alliance To Be A Long Standing One, Says JDS Chief

Bengaluru: Despite coming under strong criticism over its alliance with BJP from its party leaders, State Janata Dal Secular (JDS) president and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday expressed that his party’s alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be a long standing one which would stand on mutual trust between the alliance partners and stated that the leaders of both the parties will be cautious so as not to damage each other.

Addressing media persons in New Delhi after meeting Union Minister for Home Amit Shah and BJP National President J.P. Nadda, Kumaraswamy said his party joined BJP led National Democratic Alliance in the interest of Karnataka and both the parties have had cordial relationships since joining NDA.

He stated that the seat sharing with BJP will be finalized after the consecration of Ram idol at Ayodhya on January 22 and said that the meeting with Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda discussed survey reports on chances of JDS and BJP winning in Karnataka.

The seat sharing will be done taking into confidence both the alliance partners, said Kumaraswamy and exuded confidence that JDS-BJP alliance target will be to win in all 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka.

He ruled out reports of him entering Prime Minister Narendra Modi ministry and said that “Lok Sabha polls are around the corner and what will I do in two months by becoming a Minister (in the Central Government)?” Adding, he said, “In such a short tenure, what substantial work could be done by being a Minister?”