Bangalore:
The BJP and JDS have joined hands ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and recently concluded their seat-sharing talks, but the situation on the ground appears challenging. The leaders and workers of the two parties – who are more accustomed to disagreement – ​​are apparently having difficulty adjusting to being on the same side. A joint meeting organized in Tumakuru in Karnataka on Monday was marred by clashes among the party workers.
The two parties clashed on the Thuruvekere stage during an election rally organized to campaign for their alliance candidate Somanna.
Trouble started when JDS MLA MT Krishnappa pointed fingers at BJP leader Kondajji Vishwanath. He said Kondajji was responsible for his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Mr Vishwanath, who was earlier in the JDS and later switched to the BJP, was visibly upset. Before he could come forward to say anything, Mr. Somanna stopped him.
Most JDS workers claimed that there was some truth in the MLA’s statement.
Though the issue was resolved later, the camaraderie among the party workers seems to be facing teething problems, especially as the BJP and the JDS are trying to bury ideological differences to ensure a formidable fight against the Congress.
Three seats have been promised to the JDS: Hassan, Mandya and Kolar.
Former Prime Minister HD Devegowda’s son-in-law Dr Manjunath is contesting on a BJP ticket and has been fielded from Bengaluru Rural to take on Congress veteran DK Suresh, brother of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
JDS chief HD Kumaraswamy returned to Bengaluru on Sunday after undergoing surgery in Chennai. He has not yet taken a call to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
As the BJP looks to cash in on the JDS’ Vokkaliga support base in the Old Mysuru region, the latter is fighting to remain in the mainstream after the recent setback in the Assembly elections.