JDS Not Part Of Opposition Meet In Bengaluru, Awaits NDA Invite

Janata Dal-Secular leader and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said the opposition parties have never considered the regional party a part of them.

His statement comes ahead of the big opposition meeting to be held in Bengaluru today.

"The opposition never considered JDS a part of them. So, there is no question of JDS being a part of any Mahagathbandhan," Kumaraswamy told reporters.

Responding to the speculations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the JDS could join hands ahead of Lok Sabha polls coming up next year, Kumaraswamy said that he is yet to receive an invitation from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the saffron party.

"The NDA has not invited our party to any meeting. We will see on that front," he said.

Responding to Kumaraswamy's statement, Congress leader DK Shivakumar said, "if he is really interested in fighting against BJP, we will discuss it on the agenda."

"We know that for JDS, secular politics is something which they don't truly believe in. They have always had alliances with BJP even before. So, this is nothing new. I think the tag of Janata Dal-Secular needs to go. They should accept that they will do anything for the sake of power. They have no principles, no ideology. Only power matters to them and Kumaraswamy. I think it will have a deep impact on JD(S) in Karnataka. It will be the end of JDS in Karnataka," Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao said.

Notably, senior BJP leader and former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday hinted at talks regarding the JDS joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Bommai said the results of the discussion would determine future political developments.

Claiming that their allegations over JDS being the 'B-team' of BJP is now proven, the ruling Congress in the state took a dig at the developments calling the regional outfit an "opportunistic party", which is ready to join hands with anyone for the sake of power.

In response to a question on the possibility of JDS joining the NDA, Bommai said, "That is for the discussion between our leadership and JDS President H D Deve Gowda." Speaking to reporters here, he said JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy has expressed certain feelings and the discussions will continue in that direction. "The future political developments will be based on the result of those discussions," he added.

Recently, there have been enough indications from leaders of BJP and JDS about both parties coming to an understanding ahead of Lok Sabha polls.