In a surprising turn of events, C M Ibrahim, the president of the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal (S), has openly defied the party’s alliance with the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This stance puts him at odds with the party’s leader, H D Deve Gowda. Ibrahim made it clear that the JD(S) would not be joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), hinting at a potential division within the party.

Ibrahim, a former Union Minister, asserted that his faction is the original JD(S) and emphasized their commitment to secular principles. As the state president, he claimed the authority to make decisions regarding the party’s stance in Karnataka. He made an earnest appeal to former Prime Minister Gowda, urging him not to give his approval for an alliance with the BJP, citing the departure of several party members from neighboring states.

In a bold statement, Ibrahim declared that the state leadership of the JD(S) would determine their alliances in Karnataka, excluding the BJP. He outlined their approach, stating, “We will decide with whom we will form an alliance except the BJP. There are only two options – one is INDIA, and the other is NDA. We will hold discussions and make our independent decisions for Karnataka.”

It’s worth noting that the Janata Dal (S) had previously been a part of the Janata Parivar alliance, which included parties like Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Indian National Lok Dal, Samajwadi Party, and Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya). The formation of this alliance aimed to counter the BJP’s influence. However, the JD(S) eventually distanced itself from this alliance, and its political presence has primarily been in Karnataka, where it has been facing a decline in recent years.

In a significant development, the JD(S) decided to join the BJP-controlled National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in September 2023. This move has caused internal dissent within the party, particularly in the state of Kerala, where a small unit of the JD(S) is part of the state government coalition known as the Left Democratic Front. This state unit has refused to align with the right-wing NDA and has openly rebelled against the national leadership for entering into an alliance with the BJP.