The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form an alliance with former prime minister H D Deve Gowda’s party Janata Dal (Secular) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.

This alliance will extend to both the Lok Sabha and local body elections in the state.

Speaking about the formation of alliance, former Karnataka CM and BJP leader B S Yediyurappa said, “I am happy that Deve Gowda ji met our Prime Minister and they have already finalised about 4 seats. I welcome them…”, Livemint reported.

According to sources close to news agency PTI, the JD-S had sought the opinions of MLAs, ex-MLAs, and senior party leaders regarding their support for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.

The majority of leaders have reportedly expressed their preference for an alliance with the BJP.

Despite previous assertions by former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy that the JDS would contest elections independently, H D Devegowda has emphasised that the party is not bound to any national party.

However, the party only managed to secure 19 sears in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, realising that its survival depends on supporting a larger national alliance.

In the 2019 elections, the JDS only managed to win one Lok Sabha seat in Hassan, which is considered their stronghold. This seat was won by HD Devegowda’s grandnephew, Prajwal Revanna.

However, Prajwal Revanna’s membership in the Lok Sabha is now at risk as the Karnataka High Court has disqualified him, citing false affidavits submitted during the 2018-2019 general election.

The BJP has the support of the Lingayats in Karnataka. They are looking to form an alliance with the JDS, which has a strong base among the Vokkaligas, the other dominant caste in the state.

This alliance is expected to benefit both parties and increase their chances in the upcoming elections.