Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Mar 3: It seems like JD(S) will have many alliances for the forthcoming assembly elections of Karnataka. In addition confirmed pacts with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), it might rope in another partner in the form of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which is led by Asaduddin Owaisi.
According to sources, AIMIM is persisting JD(S) to consider their offer of the partnership since the last two months.
The Hyderabad-based party has a strong presence in the districts of Raichur, Bagalkote, Ballari, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadagiri and Bengaluru City. This has made the regional party JD(S) pay heed to their request of an alliance.
AIMIM has already had discussions with two seniors of JD(S), H D Deve Gowda, chief of the party and P G R Sindhia. This is confirmed by both the leaders. Sate party chief D Kumaraswamy is yet to confirm this.
If the information confirmed by a source close to JD(S) inner ring is to be believed, then it seems a decision on this alliance will be taken as soon as in the next four days or so. A leader of JD(S) also said that the party is considering of giving AIMIM a good chunk of seats than just a smattering.
When contacted by scribes, Owaisi denied having any knowledge of such a move but confirmed that his party will definitely fight in the coming assembly elections. It is learnt that Owaisi has conveyed strong inclination for an alliance with JD(S), though he has not held talks directly with the JD(S) top leadership.
Owaisi confronts Congress
Owaisi threw the gauntlet at the Congress party and asked them to prevent his party from contesting the elections if they have the guts to do so.
He vented his ire against the Congress party and remembered how he was insulted during the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls held in 2015 and said, "During the BBMP polls, I was denied permission to hold even one public meeting in Bengaluru. I forced out of two hotels in the city and not allowed to hoist the national flag on Independence Day. Such was the inhumane treatment given to me by the great Congress government in Karnataka,"
"But, let us see how the Congress will stop me from holding public meetings during these elections," he added.
According to Owaisi, his party has a strong presence in Mumbai-Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions because of a significant minority population in those areas.