While BJP hailed the move of JD(S) to join the NDA alliance on Friday, Congress mocked the decision of its former alliance partner. The Congress called the move of JD(S) as BJP's B-team in Karnataka officially becoming a part of the NDA coalition. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that their prediction during Karnataka Assembly polls in this regard was also proved to be right.
Taking to X, Ramesh said, "What the Congress had repeatedly said throughout the Karnataka election campaign has been officially vindicated today. The B-team of the BJP in the state—JD(S)—has officially become part of the NDA, that too a day following the most nakedly communal attack by a BJP MP on a former senior JD(S) leader in the Lok Sabha."
Ramesh was referring to BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri's objectionable remarks against Danish Ali, who is now in the BSP.
MP Sanjay Raut said that JD(S) has influence in one or two districts only. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, "I don't think it is challenging. There are one or two districts where this party has influence. In the last 2019 Lok Sabha elections, you must have seen that his own family members lost the election… In Karnataka, Congress has presented such a big challenge in front of BJP, so they have to fight somewhere."
On Friday, JD(S) officially joined the NDA alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The alliance was officiated after a meeting of former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda.
While Congress criticised the move of the former alliance partner, BJP leaders hailed the move.
Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa said, "NDA under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji continues to grow bigger, stronger and as the most trusted political coalition across the country. I warmly welcome the @JanataDal_S to the NDA family. Together we will build a stronger NDA and a New India."
Former BJP Chief Basavaraj Bommai said, "Meeting of Sri @hd_kumaraswamy with our Leader Shri @AmitShah and our national president @JPNadda ji is successful. Welcome to JDS leader to NDA fold. it is a political game changer in Karnataka @narendramodi @BJP4India @BJP4Karnataka @blsanthosh."