Former Chief Minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy stated on Monday that the opposition has never considered the Janata Dal-Secular (JD(S)) as part of their alliance. He further mentioned that his party will not join any opposition alliance and that they have not received an invitation from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for a meeting on July 18.
Kumaraswamy’s comments came in response to a question about the meeting of opposition parties scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on July 17-18. Opposition never considered JD(S) a part of them. So, there is no question of JD(S) being a party of any Mahagathbandhan, he clarified.
When asked about an invitation from the NDA, Kumaraswamy said they will wait and see. NDA has not invited our party for any meeting. We will see on that front, he stated.
He also criticized the Congress government in Karnataka and accused them of putting up posters along the roads to boast about their achievements. Kumaraswamy highlighted that the government’s negligence resulted in the deaths of farmers who had committed suicide, emphasizing that the matter had not been addressed.
On the other hand, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh mentioned that the meeting of opposition parties would be attended by leaders from 26 parties. The objective of these gatherings is to form a united front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The opposition parties have planned an informal meeting at 6 pm on Monday, followed by a dinner at 8 pm. The formal meeting will be held on Tuesday. The first unity meeting of the opposition took place in Patna last month.
As the political landscape in India continues to evolve, it is clear that the JD(S) does not consider itself aligned with any opposition alliance. The meeting in Bengaluru is expected to be a crucial opportunity for opposition parties to strategize and strengthen their unity against the ruling BJP. The developments will be closely watched as the nation prepares for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
