JD(S) and BJP to work together as opposition: Kumaraswamy

JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Friday that his party has decided to work together as an opposition with the BJP in the interest of the state. Stating that party supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has authorised him to take any final decision regarding the party, he said there is still time for the Parliament polls to talk about it. Kumaraswamy was responding to a question on the discussions in the JD(S) legislature party meeting on Thursday night, which was attended by Gowda, amid reports about the possibility of the JD(S) allying with the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
“I have already said both inside and outside the assembly that, as both the BJP and JD(S) are opposition parties, it has been decided to work together in the interest of the state. Even this morning, MLAs of our party discussed how to go ahead,” he said. Speaking to reporters, he said that in the legislature party meeting, Gowda advised that after gathering the opinion of all the leaders, a 10-member team has to be formed with representation from all communities for the party organisation and to raise the voice against the misdeeds of this (Congress) government in all the 31 districts.
“Still, there are 11 months for Parliament elections. Let’s see when the parliamentary election comes. It was advised to organise the party. Also, Deve Gowda has said that he has authorised me to take any final decision regarding the party,” he added.

BJP, JD(S) boycott Assembly proceedings
BENGALURU: The opposition BJP and the JD(S) boycotted proceedings of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the second day on Friday, after the Speaker suspended 10 BJP members for the remainder of the session for their “indecent and disrespectful” conduct in the House. BJP legislators staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha and raised slogans against the government and Speaker U. T. Khader. A joint delegation of both the BJP and JD(S) had on Thursday petitioned Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot regarding the “functioning” of the Congress government in the state, its “suppressive and dictatorial” nature, and also the conduct of the Speaker.