Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 28: Even though JD(S) and BJP have both denied that JD(S) is BJP’s ‘B’ team, situation in Chamundeshwari speaks otherwise.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah himself has exposed this 'secret' deal between the two parties.
Sharing a video, the CM tweeted, "GT Deve Gowda of JDS says “where JDS candidate is strong BJP voters will vote JDS & where BJP is strong JDS voters will vote BJP.” The secret understanding between BJP & JDS is not no secret anymore.
Time for JDS to shed secular pretensions (sic)."
JD(S) leaders themselves have claimed that BJP is openly supporting them in the constituency to ensure Siddaramaiah is defeated.
In Chamundeshwari, it is established that the fight is between only two political heavyweights chief minister Siddaramaiah and sitting JD(S) lawmaker G T Devegowda. While Chamundeshwari has a high number of Kurubas - members from Siddaramaiah’s caste, it also has Vokkaligas who are known to support JD(S).
JD(S) workers claim that BJP did not pitch in a strong member in the community as they did not want to split JD(S) votes.
G T Devegowda has admitted in an interview that he does not see BJP as a strong contender in Chamundeshwari and even BJP workers are supporting him. His actual contender is only Siddaramaiah, he said.
Recently, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had termed the JD(S) as the 'B' team of the BJP, and in his election rallies in the state had said that 'S' in JD(S) now stood for 'Sangh Parivar' instead of Secular.
Chances of Coalition?
It is difficult to predict who may approach JD(S) in case a need of coalition arises, as both BJP as well as Congress have ruled out the possibility of joining the JD(S).
Sources reveal that Congress leaders Mallikarjuna Kharge, G Parameshwara, D K Shivakumar, T B Jayachandra, Kagodu Thimmappa and R V Deshpande want to keep the JD(S) option open but Siddaramaiah and the seven MLAs who recently joined Congress are against the move.
Only time will tell, if Congress or BJP will get majority vote share, as per their claims or they have to knock on JD(S) doors.
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