BJP-JDS alliance will form the government in Karnataka: Preetham Gowda

Bengaluru: While both the Janata Dal Secular (JDS) and Bharatiya Janata Party have ruled out alliance between them but the BJP nominee for Hassan Assembly seat Preetham Gowda made a public statement that PM Narendra Modi had talks with JDS supremo H.D. Devegowda over post poll alliance.

Preetham Gowda also stated that as per the talks between Modi and Devegowda that JDS would not win more than 25 in the ensuing Assembly polls and told the voters that “all rivers ultimately join a sea” indicating that in case of an hung Assembly in Karnataka, BJP-JDS alliance will form the government. Preetham Gowda said “It is for you to decide.”  

A video clip went viral on social networking sites on Friday wherein the BJP nominee told the voters that “A vote to JDS is in a way a vote casted to BJP.”

Preetham Gowda is a first time MLA from Hassan seat and he entered the Assembly in 2018 election defeating four-time MLA Prakash of JDS.

When asked, former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda declined to react on the statement made by Preetham Gowda and told the reporters not to engage in discussion with him over the statement made by Preetham.

It may be recalled here that JDS and BJP had forged an alliance in 2006 and then as per the talks between the two parties, JDS MLA H.D. Kumaraswamy was made the Chief Minister and BJP’s B.S. Yediyurappa became his deputy. However, the coalition did not last long and the government collapsed in October 2007.

During his visit to Bengaluru, a couple of months back, Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah had ruled out alliance with the JDS while JDS leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy exuded confidence that his party would come to power winning 123 seats in the ensuing election.

BJP Minister and Malleshwaram Assembly seat nominee Ashwathanarayan stated that the statement made by Preetham Gowda ‘irresponsible’ and ruled out alliance with JDS under no circumstances. Ashwathnarayan said JDS nominees are BJP’s rivals in the Assembly elections.