Amid speculations that JD(S) is likely to hold talks with BJP central leadership over seat-sharing in Karnataka for the Lok Sabha elections, JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday left for New Delhi. In September, JD(S) entered into an alliance with BJP-led NDA after Kumaraswamy, a former Chief Minister, met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda in New Delhi.
Before leaving for the national capital, Kumaraswamy said he was going to Delhi for personal work.
"No seat sharing talks...is my trip to Delhi also special? There is nothing special in the Delhi trip, I'm going on personal work...there is nothing, I will come back to talk to you," he said.
However, his nephew and JD(S) Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna indicated about JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Thursday, as per a report on PTI.
Revanna mentioned in Delhi that the elders, including Deve Gowda, are scheduled to meet the Prime Minister on Thursday to address state-related issues. According to JD(S) sources, Kumaraswamy is expected to engage with BJP leadership to advance the alliance and negotiate seat distribution for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Deve Gowda, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, is currently in Delhi for the Parliament session, raising the likelihood of a meeting with Modi. Simultaneously, the presence of state BJP President B Y Vijayendra in Delhi has fueled speculation about seat-sharing discussions. Vijayendra clarified that he is attending a party meeting on December 22 and 23, involving all state presidents. During his visit, he plans to meet party leaders, including the national president Nadda, to discuss the appointment of state party office-bearers.
When questioned about seat-sharing talks with JD(S), Vijayendra acknowledged the alliance but expressed a lack of information regarding JD(S)' expectations regarding the number of seats they aim to contest in the Lok Sabha polls.