Former Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda said that state BJP leaders were kept away while finalising the alliance with JD(S). However, the first statement regarding the alliance was made by former CM Yediyurappa. The BJP Parliamentary committee member said that Deve Gowda met PM Modi and the alliance with JD(S) will make it possible for BJP to win more seats in the general elections 2024. BJP decided to face Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Karnakata in an alliance with Janata Dal (Secular).
On Thursday, Sadananda Gowda, BJP MP & former Karnataka CM in Bengaluru said, "The national leaders (of BJP) have set the stage for an alliance with the JD(S) while keeping the state leaders away."
Former BJP MLAs M P Kumaraswamy and Ramappa Lamani conveyed their desire to switch to the Congress in a meeting with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday at his official residence.
Earlier, Gowda talking to reporters said that the Central leadership did not discuss the alliance with them and they were kept out of the decision.
The statement of Gowda came after former BJP minister ST Somashekar opposed an alliance with JD(S).
After the announcement regarding the alliance, several Muslim leaders quit JD(S). Syed Shafiulla Saheb, Karnataka unit president of Janata Dal-Secular JD (S), who resigned from the party said that JD(S) has always been a secular party and if this party enters into a coalition with the one that creates problems between communities, castes and preaches secular people will oppose it.