Bengaluru, Aug 8 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) held a crucial joint meeting in Bengaluru on Saturday, with Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, senior BJP leaders and Karnataka’s Leaders of Opposition (LoPs) R. Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, along with other prominent leaders, taking part in the discussions.
The meeting is focused on finalising a coordination committee between the alliance partners, jointly taking up agitations on major issues in the future and chalking out a strategy to target the Congress-led state government during the upcoming Assembly session, particularly over the alleged controversies surrounding the background of Ministers and the contentious Bidadi Integrated Township project.
The BJP and JD(S), which are in alliance in Karnataka, have also decided to intensify their joint fight against the Congress-led state government and coordinate their strategies on major public issues during the upcoming Monsoon Session of the State Legislature.
The BJP and JD-S leaders discussed several issues, including the Bidadi Integrated Township project, alleged irregularities in Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment, the resignation of former Minister B. Nagendra and issues concerning farmers and drought.
The BJP and JD-S leaders are also expected to jointly raise allegations against the state government over the background and functioning of some Ministers.
Speaking after the meeting, Kumaraswamy said the BJP and JD-S had decided to work together on major issues and participate jointly in agitations against the Congress-led state government.
“We have to work together. Leaders of Opposition R. Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy are here. We have to work together. The BJP leaders will take part in the Bidadi padyatra,” he added.
The BJP has decided to extend symbolic support to the JD-S-led ‘padyatra’ against the Bidadi Integrated Township project on Sunday.
Kumaraswamy said he and Karnataka Assembly Opposition leader R. Ashoka would participate in the programme and give the approval to the padyatra.
The alliance leaders said they would continue their opposition to the Bidadi township project, citing protests by farmers against the proposed land acquisition.
Kumaraswamy said the Bidadi issue should be discussed in the State Assembly, claiming that farmers had been protesting against the project for more than 500 days.
“This is a highly sensitive matter. Farmers are not ready for the project. They are being subjected to pressure to give up their land,” he added.
He alleged that the Congress-led state government had failed to adequately address people’s issues and was instead preoccupied with internal matters, including the Chief Minister’s post and Cabinet portfolios.
“The (Congress) government has not bothered to look into the issues of the people. This will all be discussed during the State Assembly session,” Kumaraswamy said.
LoP R. Ashoka alleged that the Congress government had turned the Bidadi township project into a real estate venture and said the BJP and JD-S would jointly oppose it.
“Bidadi project has been turned into a real estate project by the Congress government. BJP and JD-S are launching a joint protest,” Ashoka said.
He added that JD-S leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy had received permission to conduct the padyatra up to the Bengaluru border and appealed to the BJP workers to participate in the protest.
Ashoka also said the opposition parties BJP and the JD-S were planning another major protest in Bengaluru during the Assembly session.
The BJP and JD-S would raise the Bidadi project issue both inside and outside the Legislature, he added.
“We will stage another protest at Freedom Park during the session. We will protest both inside the House and outside,” Ashoka said.
The BJP and JD-S leaders also discussed coordination between their legislators during the session.
Ashoka said the opposition parties in the state were considering holding a joint meeting of their legislators to ensure better coordination.
JD-S Floor Leader C.B. Suresh Babu and BJP leaders will coordinate in the Legislative Assembly, while Legislative Council Opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and Bhoje Gowda will coordinate in the Legislative Council, he added.
“We are unitedly facing the ruling Congress government inside the Assembly. JD-S has always supported us,” Ashoka said.
The Opposition BJP-JD-S alliance is expected to raise issues, including the alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities, the Bidadi township project, farmers’ concerns, drought and allegations against the state government.
The two parties are also working towards setting up a coordination committee to streamline decision-making and joint programmes.
Kumaraswamy said discussions were still underway on the composition of the committee and that a decision would be taken within the next two to three days.
Ashoka said the committee could comprise representatives from both parties, with discussions underway on the exact number of members.
“In future, in all major agitations and struggles that take place in Karnataka, we have decided to work and participate together. A decision has been made in this regard,” he added.
The BJP-JD-S leaders said the alliance would jointly raise issues concerning people and intensify their opposition to the Congress-led state government during the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly.
–IANS
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