Daijiworld Media Network - Hubballi

Hubballi, Dec 7: Senior BJP leader and large scale industries minister Jagadish Shettar said that the party would welcome an alliance with JD(S) if they offer to have one in the Belagavi bye-elections. Addressing the reporters in Hubballi, Shettar said, "BJP and JD(S) have a natural alliance. JD(S) helped us elect a mayor for Bengaluru city. We welcome an alliance with the JD(S) if they offer to form one. If the JD(S) allies with us, it would be beneficial.”

The Belagavi Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the death of the former parliamentarian Suresh Angadi who succumbed to coronavirus on September 23.

Speaking on Kumaraswamy's statement where the former CM had said that the alliance with Congress 'destroyed' his reputation, Shettar said, “Kumaraswamy was right about being cheated by the Congress party. He is now regretting his decision. All opposition parties were formed in India as an opposition to the Congress party. If he had allied with the BJP, he would have been in power."

On November 22, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had said, “In my opinion, contesting the bye-elections is not beneficial for the party. Because we have seen the results so far."

Shettar's statement of an alliance between the two parties comes in the wake of speculation that the BJP and the JD(S) were in talks of an alliance. Over the last six months, chief minister BS Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy also had held several rounds of discussions privately.

Although the BJP has yet to decide a candidate for the vacant seat, Shettar is likely the aspirant for the ticket. Sources also reported that if Shettar is given a ticket he will possibly step down from his ministerial post.