Even as Janata Dal(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy’s remarks against the Congress triggered speculation of a possible alliance between the Janata Dal(S) and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the by-elections to the Lok Sabha, the BJP has reportedly stuck to its stand that it is agreeable for an alliance only if it is a formal one.
“We have made our stand very clear to the Janata Dal(S) that we are ready for an alliance. But it cannot be a tacit one. They have to publicly acknowledge the alliance, especially after its leaders publicly aired their views against joining hands with us,” sources in the BJP said.
“We have to withdraw our candidates if there is an alliance. We are not comfortable with the idea of having an alliance and having our candidate in the fray,” the sources said and noted that a decision will come by morning on Wednesday as it is the last day for withdrawal of nomination papers.
The BJP has convened a meeting in Bangalore on Wednesday to chalk out a strategy for the by-polls to the Lok Sabha and three Legislative Council seats. “If the alliance does not materialise, then we will fight it out in the two Lok Sabha seats, though we are not strong there,” the sources said.
Three BJP candidates are in the fray in Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha seat while one candidate from the party has filed his nomination papers for the Mandya seat.
