BJP, JD(S) join hands for four Karnataka Council seats, discuss alliance strategy

The BJP and JD(S) have decided to jointly contest the upcoming elections to four Karnataka Legislative Council seats from teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies, state BJP president BY Vijayendra said on Saturday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of leaders from both parties in Bengaluru, where they also discussed coordinating their political programmes and jointly taking on the Congress government in the state.

"It has been decided that the BJP and JD(S) should contest the elections together in all four constituencies. We have to win all four seats and work together towards that goal," Vijayendra said.

He said leaders had been assigned responsibilities for each constituency as the alliance works out its election strategy.

The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, H D Kumaraswamy and Shobha Karandlaje, Leaders of Opposition R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, besides senior leaders, district presidents and other functionaries of the two parties.

The four seats — two graduates’ and two teachers’ constituencies — will go to polls on October 23, with counting scheduled for October 27. The terms of the sitting members end on November 11.

The BJP has fielded K M Suresh from the South East Graduates’ constituency, S V Sankanur from West Graduates’ and Shashil G Namoshi from North East Teachers’. JD(S) will contest the Bangalore Teachers’ seat, where it has named A P Ranganath against Congress’s sitting member Puttanna.

The Congress has fielded former MLC Mohan Limbikai from West Graduates’, former MLC Sharanappa Mathur from North East Teachers’ and Shashi Hulikuntemutt from South East Graduates’.

Vijayendra also used the meeting to target the Siddaramaiah-led government, alleging that Congress legislators were losing faith in the chief minister and that his government was struggling to control the administration.

"Congress MLAs themselves are losing faith in the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is unable to get a grip over the administration," he said.

He also alleged that the state government was making announcements without adequate funds, citing a recent Finance Department communication.

"There is no money in the treasury. The Congress government led by D K Shivakumar is limited only to announcements," he alleged.

The BJP and JD(S) leaders also discussed jointly organising political programmes and protests in the coming days, as the two parties seek closer coordination in Karnataka.