JDS-BJP alliance will benefit BJP more: HD Kumaraswamy

Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy met senior BJP leaders Amit Shah and JP Nadda in Delhi on Friday to discuss seat-sharing as part of an alliance between the two parties for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Kumaraswamy, a former Karnataka chief minister, told ET that the JDS and BJP have decided to contest the polls in alliance and a discussion on seats is underway. An alliance between the two parties is the need of the hour to defeat Congress in the state, he said.

"In 2019, BJP won 25 out of 28 seats. However, things are different in 2024 and Congress is stronger. More than JDS, the alliance will be beneficial for BJP. Together we can repeat the success of 2019," he said.


In 2019, the JDS contested seven seats in alliance with Congress and won only one seat.

BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa had said a few days ago that an agreement had been reached to give four seats to JDS. Kumaraswamy said the number of seats is least important. "I am not looking at the number of seats. But I can say that we alone can win two to four Lok Sabha seats. It is important to forge an alliance to defeat Congress. Without alliance, BJP will not be able to perform better in the state," he said.

Kumaraswamy said this was his first meeting regarding the alliance and that now JDS has become part of NDA. Seat-sharing will be announced at the right time, he said.

Kumaraswamy said apart from Old Mysuru, which is considered a JDS bastion, the party has a presence in Hyderabad Karnataka, Bijapur, Raichur and Gulbarga. "In all these regions, BJP and JDS can defeat Congress as per our analysis," he said.

He said voters from minority communities have sided with Congress since the assembly elections. "The minorities are completely with Congress and that will remain so in the upcoming general election. A change will take place only after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," said Kumaraswamy.