Bengaluru, Sept 13: Janata Dal (Secular) is ready to strike an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming assembly bypolls if Sonia Gandhi blessed the patch-up between the two sides, according to Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda.
"I will speak to her personally and seek her views. There's no compulsion for the JD(S) to contest in all 17 assembly segments, where the bypolls are due," Gowda said.
The two parties' fractious coalition was left in tatters after the Lok Sabha election results and a rebellion by 17 MLAs that toppled their government in Karnataka and brought the BJP to power. The disqualification of these MLAs has necessitated the bypolls.
Initiating another formal tie-up might prove to be tricky for the JD(S) as many of its leaders have voiced concerns about aligning with the Congress following a tiff between Gowda and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah.
Meanwhile, on speculation about members of the Gowda family contesting bypolls, the JD(S) chief said: "There is a demand to field Prajwal [Hassan MP] from Hunsur and that I should contest for Hassan parliamentary segment. But I have clarified that the party needs a young voice [Parjwal] in the Lok Sabha and none of my family members will contest the bypolls."
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