Open alliance with SDPI, clandestine agreement with BJP... JD(S) is ready for any extreme step!

Sources close to JD(S) leaders H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy say that the father son duo is ready for any extreme step to accomplish their temporary missions at every election – They can participate in coalition government with BJP or even establish an alliance with the political arm of Popular Front of India. They can treat Muslims as terrorists or even they can act as saviors of Muslims!

Very recently Mr Kumaraswamy had stated that he never regretted forming a coalition government with BJP, dropping indications of alliance with the saffron party again. The alliance between JD(S) and BJP continued even in last year's bypolls for Mandya and Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha seats and also for the Upper House bypolls from Mysore, Chitradurga and Hubli. It was a case of enemy's enemy is my friend -- both JD(S) and BJP wanted the alliance as they saw Congress as their common enemy and they did not want division of votes in both constituencies. However, both the parties faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of Congress thanks to the largely undivided Muslim votes. This prompted the JD(S) leaders to strike a deal with a Muslim oriented party.

Meanwhile, both BJP and JD(S) leaders reportedly reached another clandestine agreement to defeat their common enemy in Lok Sabha polls. A senior leader and former minister in the BJP said they don't mind continuing alliance with JD(S) as the party is looking at joining hands with anti-Congress political parties in this general election.

Karnataka BJP president Prahlad Joshi had recently stated that said the alliance between BJP and JD(S) suffered a setback in the bypolls only because of lack of clarity on it. "We strongly believe clear understanding on a joint campaign and involvement of BJP cadres would have made a difference to the result," he said, hinting that the party is not averse to the open alliance.

“Our main aim is to defeat the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. The JD(S) has launched a Dharma Yuddha against them. Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, talk of winning a minimum of 20 of the total 28 seats in Karnataka. We want to restrict that number to five or six,” said a senior JD(S) leader. “The JD(S) welcomes all those who want to join hands to trounce the Congress in Karnataka. Our common enemy is the Congress and we will not allow it to grow” he added.

In Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituencies, the strategy of JD(S) is obviously helpful for BJP. In Dakshina Kannada it is openly backing SDPI candidate, who can become a hurdle for Congress candidate B Janardhan Poojary and pave the way for BJP candidate Nalin Kumar Kateel's second victory. In Udupi-Chikmagalur JD(S) is almost sure of losing deposit, but it wants to divide secular votes and give a blow to Congress candidate K Jayaprakash Hegde. In Mysore too, the main intention behind JD(S') decision to field a candidate is to defeat Congress' H Vishwanath by dividing secular votes and help BJP's candidate Prathap Simha.