JD (S) rules out alliance with BJP for local body polls in Karnataka

Former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has ruled out the possibility of his party entering into an alliance with the BJP to fight the coming elections to urban local bodies in Karnataka.

Making the announcement after a party meeting in Bangalore yesterday, Gowda said the JD (S) will go it alone in the coming elections. “We will fight the elections on our own”, he said.

Gowda’s decision to keep away from the BJP barely weeks ahead of the polls, which are expected to cover more than 60 per cent of the State’s electorate, has poured cold water on hopes of its coalition partner BJP.

The BJP, which is scheduled to take over the Chief Ministerial gaddi from H D Kumaraswamy during October this year, is keen to cement its alliance with the JD (S) by forging an understanding in the urban local body polls.

But, Gowda said he was keen on strengthening the party at its grass roots level and hence the decision to go it alone in the local body polls.

When asked whether the JD (S) will field candidates in all the constituencies during the local body polls, Gowda did not rule out the possibility of the party remaining away from the fray in a few seats. “But, that does not mean that we are in alliance with anybody”, he said. “When we contested the elections in Goa, we did not field candidates in all the seats. Does it mean what we were in alliance with somebody”, he said.