PANAJI
A month after formalising an alliance with the BJP for Lok Sabha elections, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday met Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in Panaji requesting to take the alliance talks further with the high command.
The BJP high command has nominated Sawant to hold talks with the JDS leaders before an alliance was formally announced last month. Sawant was also present at the meeting between Kumaraswamy and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda in Delhi on September 22.
However, post-meeting, no further talks, especially on seat sharing have taken place between the two party leaders.
Sources informed that Kumaraswamy along with his son Nikhil met Sawant and requested to fix an appointment with BJP top leaders. “Kumaraswamy has requested Goa CM to fix an appointment with JP Nadda to discuss the seat-sharing issue. BJP leaders were supposed to hold talks with JDS on seat sharing earlier this month,” sources said.
However, it is learnt that the CM has informed Kumaraswamy that the BJP Parliamentary Board will hold talks on seat sharing.
Sawant had at that time claimed to have played a “small” role in strengthening NDA through ties with JDS. “I have played a small role to strengthen the NDA and assure PM Narendra Modi’s victory in the 2024 LS polls. I welcome JD (S) entry into NDA,” Sawant said.
He said that with JD (S) joining hands with NDA, the alliance will win all the LS seats in Karnataka and NDA will once again come to power.
