BJP, JD(S) unsure of contesting panchayat polls together

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The BJP and JD(S) alliance is once again heading into choppy waters on the question of seat sharing, this time with respect to the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) and Taluk Panchayat (TP) elections, which may take place in either July or August. Both parties appear to be reluctant to continue the alliance for the rural local body polls. Both outfits feel that if they contest these elections together, it’ll deprive their grassroots workers of opportunities to land tickets.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners had to contend with internal disgruntlement when they were trying to smash out a seat sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections, something both parties had willingly agreed to. In the run up to the general elections last year, JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy’s patience had run out when he came out and publically said that his party’s demands had been more than reasonable, adding that the BJP had been dilly-dallying for no reason. The regional outfit ended up contesting on three seats namely Mandya, Hassan and Kolar, winning two of them. They had lost Hassan in the backdrop of NDA ticket holder Prajwal Revanna being accused of sexually assaulting scores of women and being caught on video doing it.

However, in other places, the allies benefitted from the alliance nearly sweeping the Old Mysuru region. This was especially evident in Bengaluru Rural where BJP retains little presence but their candidate Dr CN Manjunath won convincingly with the backing of JD(S) workers. Dr Manjunath is the son-in-law of JD(S) patriarch HD Devegowda. The saffron party ended up winning 17 seats of the 26 contested.

Battle for Old Mysuru: However, fundamental differences remain in both parties as many BJP leaders from Old Mysuru believe that the reliance on JD(S) was hindering their own progress in the region. BJP MLA from Sakleshpur (Hassan district) S Manjunath has been vocal about ending the alliance for this very purpose, insisting that if they continue the alliance, they won’t be in a position to win a majority in the 2028 Assembly.

The saffron party has never won a majority in Karnataka, relying on defections from other parties and independents to cross the majority mark. KC Narayana Gowda, a former JD(S) man, holds the same opinion as Manjunath. Still others concede that Vokkaliga support through the JD(S) was instrumental in the BJP’s good performance in the Lok Sabha elections. Many in the JD(S) also believe that they’ve had to concede too much political space to the BJP, which is the senior partner in the alliance.