New Delhi: Former Chief Minister and President of Karnataka JD(S), H.D. Kumaraswamy, engaged in a crucial meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday, spanning 30 minutes at Shah’s office.
Sources indicate that the meeting was convened to finalize the seat-sharing arrangement between the parties and address the emergence of dissent within certain BJP factions in the state towards JD(S). Kumaraswamy reportedly urged Amit Shah to grant JD(S) candidates the opportunity to contest from Mandya, Hassan, Bengaluru Rural, or Kolar Lok Sabha constituencies.
Despite the alliance being announced four months ago, seat-sharing remains unresolved. Notably, sitting MP Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent candidate from Mandya, declared her support for BJP, affirming her decision to contest from the Mandya constituency.
Assuring Kumaraswamy, Amit Shah pledged to make a final decision on seat-sharing promptly, promising to deliberate on the demand to allow JD(S) candidates to contest from Mandya and Hassan seats, after consulting with state leadership.
Accompanied by his son, actor-turned-politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, during the meeting, JD(S) remains optimistic about securing five to seven seats from BJP, primarily concentrated in southern Karnataka, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.