Bengaluru: The BJP-JD(S) alliance which has created a lot of unrest at the local level across Karnataka, where the regional party has a strong following, is likely to prove a ‘roadblock’ for the saffron party’s attempts to strengthen its cadre base in the 10 districts of south Karnataka region.
Twice, in the last 15 years, BJP failed to secure a complete majority in the state primarily on account of its poor outing in the southern districts outside Bengaluru. It had won 11 of the 61 seats which were up for grabs in these districts. In 2023, the party won only five seats from these districts.
While BJP made several attempts to expand its turf in these segments, it failed to attract strong leadership from these districts. It always had to rely on turncoats.
With an alliance with the JD(S), that is primarily considered a Vokkaliga dominated party with its bastion in the southern districts, the expansion efforts will likely become that much more difficult.
The JD(S), knowing its strength, has sought all its five seats in these 10 southern districts. The seats which it has sought include Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Hassan, Mandya and Tumakuru.
“We do not expect much resistance from BJP in these five seats as JD(S) has an upper hand with its workers and followers. We will in fact benefit with the increase in our vote bank due to the popularity of PM Modi,” said a JD(S) legislator.
However, BJP claims it has the bigger advantage in the alliance as it expects the “undercurrent” of the pre-poll alliance to work in its favour. “We will be able to piggyback on the JD(S) to build and expand our party base over the next few years,” said a BJP legislator.
But newly appointed general secretary of the BJP state unit Preetham Gowda said the sole criteria for seat sharing should be winnability.
“For instance, a BJP victory is more likely in Hassan than our alliance partner as per our recent surveys. In such scenarios we would expect JD(S) to extend its full cooperation to our candidate. The same holds true for us. The sole criteria for seat sharing should be survey reports, as both parties want the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Gowda, who is considered a formidable adversary to the Deve Gowda hold in Hassan district.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the meeting between former PM HD Deve Gowda and his family with Prime Minister Modi has led to a green signal being accorded to the local leadership of both the parties to start seat sharing talks. The deliberations are expected to begin in the next 10-15 days.
The details of the talks will be more evident after Sankranti festival said JD(S) MLC KA Thippeswamy.
Twice, in the last 15 years, BJP failed to secure a complete majority in the state primarily on account of its poor outing in the southern districts outside Bengaluru. It had won 11 of the 61 seats which were up for grabs in these districts. In 2023, the party won only five seats from these districts.
While BJP made several attempts to expand its turf in these segments, it failed to attract strong leadership from these districts. It always had to rely on turncoats.
With an alliance with the JD(S), that is primarily considered a Vokkaliga dominated party with its bastion in the southern districts, the expansion efforts will likely become that much more difficult.
The JD(S), knowing its strength, has sought all its five seats in these 10 southern districts. The seats which it has sought include Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Hassan, Mandya and Tumakuru.
“We do not expect much resistance from BJP in these five seats as JD(S) has an upper hand with its workers and followers. We will in fact benefit with the increase in our vote bank due to the popularity of PM Modi,” said a JD(S) legislator.
However, BJP claims it has the bigger advantage in the alliance as it expects the “undercurrent” of the pre-poll alliance to work in its favour. “We will be able to piggyback on the JD(S) to build and expand our party base over the next few years,” said a BJP legislator.
But newly appointed general secretary of the BJP state unit Preetham Gowda said the sole criteria for seat sharing should be winnability.
“For instance, a BJP victory is more likely in Hassan than our alliance partner as per our recent surveys. In such scenarios we would expect JD(S) to extend its full cooperation to our candidate. The same holds true for us. The sole criteria for seat sharing should be survey reports, as both parties want the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Gowda, who is considered a formidable adversary to the Deve Gowda hold in Hassan district.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the meeting between former PM HD Deve Gowda and his family with Prime Minister Modi has led to a green signal being accorded to the local leadership of both the parties to start seat sharing talks. The deliberations are expected to begin in the next 10-15 days.
The details of the talks will be more evident after Sankranti festival said JD(S) MLC KA Thippeswamy.