The Janata Dal (Secular) will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls independently, said party supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday. However, recent bonhomie between the party and the Bharatiya Janata Party has hinted that the party is keeping other options open. The party would decide on its action in future based on the prevailing situation, he said. The party supremo also said that he was not invited to the Opposition meeting as a section of Congress opposed to such a move even when Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wanted him to be there, as per a PTI report.
"JD(S) will fight the Lok Sabha elections independently", Deve Gowda told a news conference in Bengaluru.
"Whether we (the party) win five, six, three, two or one seats, we will fight the Lok Sabha elections independently", he said, adding, "We will field candidates only in those places where we are strong after consulting with our workers".
On being not invited to the Opposition meeting, he said, “"A section of Congress here (in Karnataka) had threatened that they will not attend the event if Deve Gowda is invited. Hence, I was not called," he said.
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Deve Gowda said Nitish Kumar wanted to invite him but some local Congress leaders were not in favour.
Deve Gowda’s son and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said last week his party would work together with the BJP against the Congress government in Karnataka on various issues, fueling speculation of the two parties joining hands for next year's polls.
Reacting to a probable alliance of BJP and JD(S), Karnataka CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah said, “I don't know about JDS and BJP talks, even if they come together we will win at least 15-20 Lok sabha seats in Karnataka. Doesn't matter whether they tie up or not..."