JDS-Congress Join Hands to Defeat BJP in Karnataka

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Mar 19 (ANI): Janta Dal (Secular) and the Congress party on Tuesday confirmed that they will be contesting the Lok Sabha elections together.In a joint media briefing here, by JDS leaders Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and HD Devegowda along with Congress leader Siddaramiah said that this was not something new. "We knew we were together as soon as we formed a coalition government in the state," they said."We decided that we have to face the BJP together. Our focus is to keep BJP at a bay in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and win as many seats as possible. Even in the by-elections, we fought together and won the elections in Bellary, Jamkhandi, and Ramanagara."Citing benefits of their coalition, the leaders said: "Yeddyurappa had won by a huge margin in the last elections. But, in the by-elections, we did give them a good fight. Now, in this Lok Sabha election, we want to defeat the BJP completely."They also stated that most probably on March 31 a public meeting will be held in which most likely Congress president Rahul Gandhi will also be present.Karnataka will go to polls during the second and third phases of Lok Sabha election on April 18 and April 23, respectively. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. (ANI)

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