JD(S) and BJP had unofficially worked together in Mysuru since 2014 elections, claims H.D. Kumaraswamy

Responding to queries on Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh’s support for his candidature as the nominee of the BJP-JD(S) combine in Mandya, Mr. Kumaraswamy struck a conciliatory note and said the incumbent MP is not his ‘enemy’.

Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has claimed that JD(S) and BJP workers had been working together unofficially since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on March 28, a day after participating in a co-ordination meeting between leaders of BJP and JD(S), Mr. Kumaraswamy said he does not see any thorny issues relating to co-ordination between the workers of the two alliance partners.

While workers of the two parties were unofficially working together since the 2014 polls, Mr. Kumaraswamy said they will now officially work towards a common goal in view of the pre-poll understanding between the BJP and JD(S).

The co-ordination meeting between leaders of BJP and JD(S), held in Mysuru on March 27 resolved to take the grassroots-level workers of both parties into confidence and treat them with respect. “There is no lack of co-ordination between workers of the two parties,” he said.

Responding to queries on Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh’s support for his candidature as the nominee of the BJP-JD(S) combine in Mandya, Mr. Kumaraswamy struck a conciliatory note and said the incumbent MP is not his ‘enemy’.

Expressing confidence that Ms. Sumalatha’s reported disappointment over the BJP’s decision to cede the constituency to JD(S), ignoring her claims, will be resolved soon, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he and Ms. Sumalatha’s late husband Ambareesh had grown together in politics.

To a question, he said he will meet Ms. Sumalatha if such a need arises.