Former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday hinted at the possibility of JDS-BJP alliance in the coming months. The remarks come amid growing political turmoil in neighboring Maharashtra as the NCP teeters on the brink of a split. The JD(S) leader had earlier predicted a ‘Maharashtra-like’ situation for the state without taking names – even as netizens discussed the possibility of a Congress split.
“I don’t want to name anyone in particular. Anything can happen. It will not take much time, probably it will happen at the end of this year or after the parliamentary elections. We will have to wait for this, Kumaraswamy said.
Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Sunday joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, fueling speculation of possible alliances in other states. Apart from Karnataka, MPs from JDS and BJP have also raised the possibility of a rift within Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party.
BJP leader BS Yediyurappa was more ambiguous, extending support to the JDS chief and hinting that the two would ‘fight together’ in future. He also said that the Karnataka opposition would soon decide on its representative.
“Whatever HD Kumaraswamy is saying is absolutely true and I want to support his statement. Kumaraswamy and we will fight together in future,” he said.
The budget session of the Karnataka Assembly will begin on Monday and the opposition is expected to attack the government over the alleged delay in the implementation of five guarantees of the Congress.
“Today our leader is coming and we will decide on the leader of the opposition and hopefully we will finalize the name this evening or tomorrow,” Yeddyurappa said on Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy has become critical of the Congress in recent times. He hit out at the Congress for allowing AICC general secretary in Karnataka Randeep Surjewala to attend an official meeting of the state government. The JDS leader also alleged on Tuesday that the newly formed government does not care about the problems of the common people.
(with inputs from agencies)
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UPDATE: July 04, 2023, 03:18 PM IST