The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has announced its support for the Janata Dal (Secular) party in the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka. The BRS considers the JD(S) as a "natural ally" and has decided to fully support the party led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, sources said on Sunday.
Earlier, the BRS was considering fielding its candidates in some districts bordering Telangana in Kalyana-Karnataka, as part of its strategy to expand nationally. However, the party has now abandoned that plan and has instead thrown its weight behind the JD(S) in Karnataka.
"JD(S) is our natural ally and we will go with the party. We want to ensure that the JD(S) is successful in the elections", a senior leader of BRS, headed by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. also known as KCR, told PTI.
According to the sources, KCR would definitely campaign for JD(S) candidates, particularly in segments where "Telugu-speaking people are densely populated", as a BRS leader put it.
The Assembly elections in Karnataka are scheduled to take place by May this year. In a bid to bolster their campaign, JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata last week. During the meeting, Kumaraswamy requested Banerjee to campaign for his party in the upcoming Assembly polls in Karnataka.
According to a JD(S) leader, Banerjee has asked Kumaraswamy to send her a schedule. "Mamata Banerjee has agreed to Kumaraswamy’s request to campaign in Karnataka. She has asked him to send her a schedule."
This move is seen as significant as Banerjee is a prominent opposition leader and her campaigning in Karnataka could potentially sway the outcome of the elections.
It is worth noting that Kumaraswamy had attended a meeting of opposition parties convened by Banerjee in Kolkata in January 2019, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls that year.
Check out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!
BJP holds meeting in Delhi as polling underway for 5th phase
May 20, 2024 4:21 PM
UP Police arrests man after viral videos shows him voting multiple times
May 20, 2024 2:18 PM