From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 18: A meeting of JD(S) party’s election in-charge and other leaders held in the presence of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and State party president H D Kumaraswamy saw heated exchanges with several JD(S) leaders taking the party leadership to task over the neglect of JD(S) in all BJP meetings, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallies in Kalaburgi and Shivamogga.
The meeting held at the JD(S) office on Monday on the day, Modi is in Karnataka to address BJP election meeting, took exception to Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy as well as other JD(S) leaders being ignored or taken for granted by the senior alliance partner BJP.
The meeting criticised the unilateral selection and announcement of the names of candidates by BJP in 20 Lok Sabha constituencies and pointed out that JD(S) can ensure BJP victory in 18 constituencies as it can contribute 3 to 4% votes and help the alliance candidates.
The JD(S) meeting said State and local leadership of BJP was ignoring JD(S) and has not bothered to invite even Deve Gowda and Kumarawamy for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings in Kalaburgi and Shivamogga.
"What is the use of the alliance of JD(S) with BJP,’’ the JD(S) leaders asked and what happened to the 5 seats, including Kolar, Hassan and Mandya and the reluctance of BJP to decide on the Kolar seat till now. Does this mean JD(S) will get just 2 seats in the alliance?’’ the JD(S) leaders questioned Kumaraswamy.
The former prime minister and JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda, who patiently heard the party leaders, advised Kumaraswamy to meet Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda again and sort out the irritants in the BJP-JD(S) alliance.
‘’If necessary, I will go to Delhi to discuss,’’ said Deve Gowda.