Farooq rushes to unite divided anti-BJP forces in K’taka

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A day afer JD(S) supremo and former PM HD Deve Gowda set off ripples in political circles wondering aloud which party had not aligned with the BJP, former Jammu and Kashmir CM and one of the key proponents of opposition unity, Farooq Abdullah rushed to Bengaluru to hold talks with Congress and JD(S) bigwigs on Wednesday.

What has left opposition leader a bit shocked is Deve Gowda's apparent willingness to tie up with the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls which could prove detrimental to Congress prospects, particularly in the Old Mysore region. Farooq met Deve Gowda, son HD Kumaraswamy and other leaders of the regional party and also called on CM Siddaramaiah and some of his ministerial colleagues.

The BJP currently has 25 MPs from Karnataka of the total 28. It is not clear whether the saffron party would be willing to enter a seat sharing arrangement with JD(S) in 2024 though the possibility cannot be ruled in view of the beating it took at the hands of the Congress in the Assembly polls.

After meeting Deve Gowda, Farooq said: “The question is not the BJP. The question is of the nation. Do you want the nation to be divided on religious basis or do you want the nation to be united together? It’s a diverse nation. I have nothing in common with Karnataka. They have nothing in common with Kashmir. What unites us? The desire to work together, to build this nation.''