BJP-JDS ‘dosti’ in place for Upper House polls?

BJP veteran Yediyurappa had sought support of JD(S) to win more seats and Kumaraswamy had hinted at a tacit pact

The ruling BJP and the opposition Janata Dal (Secular) seems to have decided to continue their ‘dosti’ in the coming election to 25 seats in the State Legislative Council from the local bodies slated to be held on December 10.

While the BJP has fielded 20 candidates for the 25 seats, the JD(S) has named only seven candidates. Two days ago, former CM and veteran BJP leader, B.S.Yediyurappa had sought the support of JD(S) to win more seats so that the saffron party would have a majority in the upper house.

Responding to this, Kumaraswamy has dropped hints of a ‘tacit understanding’ saying that a decision would be taken depending on the situation at the ground level. To put it simply, the JD(S) has no problem in the transfer of its votes to the BJP with a view to preventing the Congress from winning more seats in the Council polls. Already, the BJP-JD(S) ‘dosti’ is going strong in the Legislative Council which resulted in the anointing of Basavaraj Horatti as chairman of the Upper House replacing Pratapchandra Shetty of the Congress.

The JD(S) has fielded sitting MLC N.Appajigowda in Mandya, R. Anilkumar in Tumkur, C.N. Manjegowda in Mysuru, Vakkaleri Ramu in Kolar, H.M. Ramesh Gowda in Bengaluru Rural, H.U. Issac Khan in Kodagu and Dr Suraj Revanna in Hassan. The party had decided to contest in eight constituencies but now, it has decided to contest only in six places. In previous elections, the JD(S) had won in four seats and this time it has high hopes of winning all seven seats.

While the JD(S) is still a strong force in south Karnataka districts, the BJP has a strong presence in Kalyana Karnataka, Kittur Karnataka and Coastal Karnataka. Former CM, H.D.Kumaraswamy does not want the Congress to win more seats because of his anger against Congress Legislature Party leader and former CM, Siddaramaiah who has scant respect for regional parties. To defeat the Congress candidates wherever possible, the JD(S) has made up its mind to join hands with its lesser enemy to defeat the bigger enemy. Ticket politics

The denial of ticket to the sitting JD(S) MLC from Mysuru, Sandesh Nagaraj by the BJP is said to be an outcome of the friendship between the BJP and JD(S). In Mandya too, the JD(S) is expecting help from the BJP to help its sitting MLC, Appajigowda defeat the surprise candidate of Congress, Dinesh Gooligowda, a former special officer to Co-Operation and Mysuru District-in-Charge Minister, S.T.Somashekar. In turn, the JD(S) is expected to help BJP candidates in other places like Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Tumakuru.

Responding to reports of the ‘secret understanding’, CM’s Political Secretary and Honnali MLA, M.P. Renukacharya welcomed the support from JD(S) and opined it would help in defeating the Congress in the Council polls. “Anybody who comes forward to help our party to defeat the grand old party is welcome”.

However, speaking to the media, Kumaraswamy said “ so far, no decision has been taken in this regard. We will decide based on the ground reality and after consultation with local party workers”.