All seems to be not well in the BJP-JDS alliance in Karnataka, where leaders and workers of both parties clashed with each other during a joint meeting in Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency on Monday. The two sides clashed on stage at an election meeting organised in Thuruvekere to campaign for the alliance candidate and BJP leader V Somanna.
The scuffle broke out when JDS MLA MT Krishnappa, while addressing the meeting, pointed out that BJP’s Kondajji Vishwanath was responsible for his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Vishwanath, who was in the JDS before he crossed over to the BJP, was visibly upset with the claim and stepped forward to speak. But before he could say anything, Somanna stopped him.
Meanwhile, most JDS workers in the state believed that there was some truth in Krishnappa’s words.
The matter was resolved later, but it has put a spotlight on the ideological differences between the two allies. BJP and JDS, which are used more to being at odds with each other, trying to put up a joint front to ensure a formidable fight against the Congress.
As part of the seat-searing agreement, while BJP will contest 25 of the 28 seats in the state, JDS has been promised three seats — Hassan, Mandya and Kolar.
With the alliance, while the JDS is fighting to remain the mainstream after the recent setback in the assembly election, the BJP is hoping to cash on Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s party’s Vokkaliga support base in the Old Mysuru region.
Devegowda’s son-in-law Dr Manjunath is also contesting from Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket. He will take on Congress veteran DK Suresh, brother of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
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