Days after Karnataka's former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy declared that his party, JD(S), and the BJP will work together as an opposition, in the interest of the state, party supremo and Ex-PM H D Deve Gowda announced that JD(S) will fight the Lok Sabha elections independently.
JD(S) will field candidates for LS polls only in segments where party is strong, after consulting cadres, Deve Gowda said.
Kumaraswamy earlier said that party supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda haD authorised him to take any final decision regarding the party, and that there is still time for Parliament polls to talk about it. He was responding to a question on the discussions in the JD(S) legislature party meeting on Thursday night, which was attended by Gowda, amid reports about the possibility of JD(S) allying with the NDA ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
"I have already said both inside and outside the assembly, as both BJP and JD(S) are opposition parties, it has been decided to work together in the interest of the state. Even today morning, MLAs of our party discussed how to go ahead," he said.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he had said, Gowda had advised that after gathering the opinion all the leaders, a 10-member team has to be formed with representation from all communities, for the party organisation and to raise the voice against the misdeeds of this (Congress) government in all the 31 districts.
"Still there is 11 months for Parliament elections. Let's see when Parliament election comes. It was advised to organise the party. Also, Deve Gowda has said that he has authorised me to take any final decision regarding the party," he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that BJP and JDS cannot destabilise the government. "They are making some political strategy for their political gains but nothing will work. Our government is strong and stable," he said.
In the elections to the 224-member Assembly held in May, the Congress bagged 135 seats, while the BJP secured 66 and the JD(S) 19.
