BENGALURU: BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), which announced their
alliance
for
Lok Sabha
elections in Karnataka last Sept, are reportedly finalising the seat-sharing arrangement. According to sources, BJP is set to contest 24 of the 28 seats, while JD(S) is likely to field candidates in 4 constituencies.
Despite the anticipation, leaders of both parties remain tightlipped about the details, with plans to make it official after the elections are formally announced, expected sometime in March. The sources claimed that the seats allocated to JD(S) include Mandya, Hassan, Kolar and Chikkaballapur. Initially, the party had expressed interest in contesting from Tumkur and Bangalore Rural, apart from Mandya, Hassan and Chikkaballapur.
Political analysts in the state are closely watching this alliance, considering the dynamics of Vokkaliga vote, which constitutes around 16% of Karnataka's population. All four seats that sources say have gone in the JD(S) quota, are Vokkaliga strongholds.
While JD(S) has had a command over the Vokkaligas, with party chief H D Kumaraswamy and his father, former PM H D Deve Gowda, belonging to the community, Congress also has a strong Vokkaliga leader in D K Shivakumar. In the assembly elections, the Vokkaligas split their support, affecting the performance of JD(S).
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