The Janata Dal (Secular), led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda in Karnataka, joined the the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Friday, confirming the development. #WATCH | Former Karnataka CM and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. JDS to formally join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). BJP President JP Nadda and Goa CM Pramod Sawant are also present during the meeting. pic.twitter.com/7SpdnoWFSJ — ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2023 BJP national President J P Nadda and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant were also present at the meeting. Confirming the same, Nadda tweeted, "Met Former Chief Minister Karnataka and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy in the presence of our senior leader and Home Minister Amit Shah. I am happy that JD(S) has decided to be the part of National Democratic Alliance. We wholeheartedly welcome them in the NDA." Met Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and JD(S) leader Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy in the presence of our senior leader and Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji. I am happy that JD(S) has decided to be the part of National Democratic Alliance. We wholeheartedly welcome them in the NDA.… pic.twitter.com/eRDUdCwLJc — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 22, 2023 Earlier this month, former BJP chief minister and member of the BJP national executive B S Yediyurappa had stated that BJP national leaders had agreed to share four of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka with the JD(S). “The BJP and the JD(S) will form an alliance. (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah has agreed to give four Lok Sabha seats (to the JD(S)). This will strengthen us in a big way. It will facilitate wins in 25 to 26 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka,” Yediyurappa said amid speculation that Deve Gowda held meetings with Shah and BJP president J P Nadda during a recent visit to Delhi. Following this, JD (S) supremo Deve Gowda had made the alliance official at a party workers' meeting saying the decision to ally with the BJP was “essential” to “save” the regional party in the state. The JD (S) has remained neutral to the INDIA and NDA coalitions since suffering a massive loss in the recently held Assembly polls in Karnataka.
