BJP keen on alliance with JD(S) for mayoral polls

The BJP on Saturday expressed its eagerness on having an alliance with the JD(S) for the BBMP mayoral polls.

Speaking at an executive committee meeting of the BJP’s Bengaluru Urban unit, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the prevailing  “political atmosphere” is conducive to wrest power from the Congress in the BBMP Council. “The people of Bengaluru voted for the BJP, which emerged as the single largest party in the BBMP polls last year. However, the Congress made a backdoor entry to capture power. Today, the BBMP is in doldrums due to the Congress rule. The time has come to ensure that the people’s mandate is implemented,” Ananth Kumar said.

The Congress and the JD(S) had come together to rule the BBMP last year. With indications that the JD(S) is not keen on continuing the alliance, the BJP has started preparing the ground to wrest power.  Ananth Kumar said the party had authorised former deputy chief minister R Ashoka to work out the details. The mayoral elections are scheduled to be held on September 19.

 Ashoka told reporters he would hold discussions with senior leaders of the party on the kind of arrangement that could be arrived at with the JD(S). Later, he would meet JD(S) leaders H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy. The party will also short-list its mayoral candidate, he added. Ashoka pointed out that the BJP had recently formed an alliance with the JD(S) in Bengaluru Urban Zilla Panchayat apart from five other ZPs. Earlier, speaking at the executive committee meeting, Ananth Kumar said the party should work out a strategy to win 25 of the 28 Assembly constituencies in Bengaluru region in the 2018 elections. 

On Saturday, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy met JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda to seek the regional party’s support during the Mayoral polls.

Reddy said that the JD(S) support is imperative. “Though the Congress is placed in a better position in terms of numbers compared to last year, the JD(S)’s support is needed. Without the party’s support, the Congress will not be able to remain in power in the BBMP,” he claimed. With BJP’s R Ashoka indicating that the saffron party might seek JD(S)’s support, the Congress has now become jittery. This, despite the three suspended JD(S) MLAs having assured support to the Congress, by ensuring the votes of at least eight corporators in its favour. “We need the support of all the JD(S) corporators, legislators and MPs,” added Reddy. Sources said the Congress has assured the JD(S) the deputy mayor’s post this term too.