No Political Ties Between Cong, JD(S) For RS, 2023 Polls: Siddaramaiah

Mumbai: Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has ruled out any alliance between the Congress and JD(S) for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls and the next year’s State Assembly elections.

His statement assumes significance as none of the three parties has enough votes to win the fourth Rajya Sabha seat from the state assembly. The Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly also made it clear that he would not go into national politics and would remain active in the state.

Responding to a question, Siddaramaiah said, “There will be no association (alliance or agreement) with JD(S)…” Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.

Elections to the four Rajya Sabha seats are necessary on June 10 because the tenure of members—Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Finance Minister) and KC Ramamurthy of the BJP, and Jairam Ramesh and late Oscar Fernandes of Congress — is due to expire on June 30.

Official sources said that the last date for filing nominations is May 31. A candidate needs 45 votes to win this Rajya Sabha election and depending on the current party’s position in the assembly, the BJP can win two seats and Congress one, official sources said, adding that the JD(S) can win one, provided it gets the support of either one of the national parties.

Similarly, if the BJP or the Congress wants to win the additional (fourth) seat, they will need the support of the JD(S), he said. According to party sources, the Congress may once again field Jairam Ramesh from the state for a seat that can be won on its own.

Responding to a question, the former Chief Minister said that he would be confined to Karnataka and would not go into national politics.

“I will remain in Karnataka politics and continue to voice the concerns of the State and its people,” he added.

Siddaramaiah had earlier said that the 2023 assembly elections would be his last, but would remain in politics. It is no secret that Siddaramaiah, who was the chief minister between 2013-2018, is fueling his ambition for a second term if the party wins the next assembly election. State Congress President DK Shivakumar has also started a one-sided game of humiliation between the two leaders with similar aspirations.

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