Siddaramaiah rules out JD(S)-Congress alliance for 2023 Assembly polls

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday ruled out any "political relationship" between his party and the JD(S) either during the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls or the 2023 Assembly elections in Karnataka.

His statement gains significance, as none of the three parties has an adequate number of votes to win the fourth Rajya Sabha seat from the State Assembly. The Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly also made it clear that he would not go to national politics, and would remain active in the State.

"There will not be any relationship (alliance or understanding) with JD(S)...we (Congress) will not have any political relationship with JD(S), there will not be any relationship during the elections or any other political relationship," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.

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The June 10 election to four Rajya Sabha seats is necessitated as the term of office of members -- Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Finance Minister) and KC Ramamurthy of BJP, and Jairam Ramesh and late Oscar Fernandes of Congress -- is due to expire on June 30. The last date of filing nominations is May 31.

A candidate needs 45 votes to win in this RS election, and based on the current party position in the Legislative Assembly, the BJP can win two seats and Congress one, official sources said, adding that the JD(S) can win one, provided it gets the support of either one of the national parties. Similarly, in case the BJP or Congress wants to win the extra (fourth) seat, they will need JD(S)' support, they said.

According to party sources, Congress may once again field Jairam Ramesh from the State for the seat it can win on its own strength. In reply to a question, the former Chief Minister said he would remain limited to Karnataka and would not go for national politics.

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"I will remain in Karnataka politics and continue to voice the concerns of the State and its people," he added.

Siddaramaiah had earlier said that the 2023 Assembly election would be his last, but would continue to remain in politics. It is no secret that Siddaramaiah, who was Chief Minister between 2013-2018, is nursing his ambition for a second term in office if the party wins the next Assembly polls.

With State Congress president D K Shivakumar, too, having similar aspirations, it has triggered a game of one-upmanship between the two leaders. Responding to a question on the demand from some section within the party for a "Dalit CM" on coming to power, the Congress Legislative Party leader said the Chief Ministerial candidate cannot be forced, and on party coming to power with a majority, newly elected MLAs would share their opinion, following which the high command would decide.

"A Chief Minister candidate cannot be forced. Dalits should also become CM, there is no second talk about it, others should also become. In a democratic system everyone is capable of becoming a CM, including Dalits, Muslims, Christians," he said.