- Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Dr Sandeep Shastri, one of India’s top political analysts, told India Weekly the regional party was ready to relinquish space to Modi’s party to retain its presence.
By: Shubham Ghosh
IN a major political development ahead of next year’s general elections in India, the Janata Dal (Secular) on Friday (22) joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Janata Dal (Secular) or JDS is a major political player in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Its chief and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy met home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda in Delhi to formally join the alliance.
Dr Sandeep Shastri, director-Academics, NITTE Education Trust and national coordinator, Lokniti Network, and one of India’s renowned psephologists, told India Weekly, “Lok Sabha elections have not seen them (JDS) do well. They are ready to relinquish space to the BJP to retain their presence. They could well be allowing an entry and entrenchment of the BJP in their base.”
Kumaraswamy is the son of former Indian prime minister HD Deve Gowda, the JDS patriarch. Both the father and son met Shah and Nadda on Thursday (21), it was reported. Deve Gowda in fact met Modi a number of times in the recent past.
Met Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and JD(S) leader Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy in the presence of our senior leader and Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji.
I am happy that JD(S) has decided to be the part of National Democratic Alliance. We wholeheartedly welcome them in the NDA.… pic.twitter.com/eRDUdCwLJc— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 22, 2023
No details were revealed about the two parties’ seat-sharing plans for next year’s elections yet.
“I am happy JDS has decided to be part of National Democratic Alliance. We wholeheartedly welcome them. This will strengthen NDA and vision of PM Narendra Modiji for ‘New India, Strong India’,” Nadda said.
Last week, Kumaraswamy said more details would be revealed after the Ganesh Puja celebrations after the media asked him whether the JD(S) had worked out any pre-poll alliance with Modi’s party, NDTV reported.
The JD(S) lost its electoral ground in Karnataka in the last general election of 2019 and state election of 2023 when it was relegated to the third position after the Indian National Congress and the BJP. While an alliance with the ruling party is expected to give the regional party a boost, the BJP could also gain from the tie-up as the JD(S) still has influence in eight parliamentary seats in Karnataka that sends 26 MPs to the Lok Sabha or Lower House. The party also commands a following among the state’s significant Vokkaliga community and that could help the BJP.
Last week, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said the JD(S) would contest in four seats from Karnataka in the national elections but both sides later said that the final decision would be taken by Modi and Shah.
