The JD(S) has decided to ally with the Congress instead of the BJP to elect their mayoral candidate for the Kalaburagi City Corporation in Karnataka, according to sources. Earlier, it was speculated that the JD(S) may ally with the BJP. And as things play out, the JD(S) has called its elected members to Bengaluru and shifted them to a resort for the time being.
The opposition party in Karnataka, Congress has emerged as the single largest party, winning 27 seats in the house of 55 in the Kalaburagi City Corporation polls. The BJP has garnered 23 seats for the first time. Meanwhile, the JD(S) bagged four seats and emerged as the kingmaker. An Independent candidate also won in the elections.
It was predicted that BJP would easily come to power with the help of JD(S). However, the party sources said that things have changed as the Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge personally spoke to the JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and called for an alliance.
The JD(S) has called for the legislators meeting of the party on Monday. A decision on going with Congress will be announced after the meeting. Deve Gowda has advised his son former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to hold his plans of supporting BJP in Kalaburagi City Corporation, according to sources.
The decision of JD(S) to go with Congress has assumed importance as the party sources say it will set the tone for the alliance of Karnataka's regional party with Congress for the next assembly elections in 2023. The expected alliance also points to a possible joint fight by JD (S) and Congress in the upcoming Zilla, Taluka Panchayat elections, as well as Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls which are scheduled to be held soon.
HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy have maintained that they will go as per the wishes of the representatives in public. Deve Gowda has mentioned that both Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai have called on him to seek the support of the JD(S).
Ruling BJP MP Umesh Jadhav has already announced that BJP will elect its mayoral candidate. Holding the reins of Kalburgi has turned into an issue of prestige between Kharge and Bommai.
Fearing ‘hijacking’ by the national parties BJP and Congress, the JD(S) has called its elected members to Bengaluru and shifted them to a resort.