Spurned by the BJP in Karnataka, the JD(U) is flexing its muscles in New Delhi to force its NDA partner to either make seat adjustments in the state or risk the national alliance.The BJP leadership, on the other hand, is divided. While party president Rajnath Singh favours a tie-up, former president Venkaiah Naidu, senior leader Ananth Kumar and Chief Minister candidate B S Yeddyurappa want to go it alone.Sources in the JD(U) disclosed that Karnataka party leaders, including state president B Somasekhar, have descended here to build pressure on their high command to decide the issue either way. Most of the JD (U) leaders are reluctant to contest unless they have the BJP support. They also fear that they would be forced to shut shop if the party fails to register its presence in the electoral arena.On the other hand, the saffron party, believing that it is riding the crest of a sympathy wave following “betrayal” by the JD(S), is reluctant to infuse life into another party which would ultimately compete with it for non-Congress space. On Friday, Karnataka JD(U) leaders met party president Sharad Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. With the first phase of polls scheduled for May 10, senior JD(U) leaders are expected to demand a categorical response from the BJP in a week’s time.According to sources in the BJP, Rajnath Singh has told his senior colleagues that JD(U) should be accommodated though its share can be reduced from the 25 seats it contested in the last Assembly poll. Only five persons were elected on the JD(U) ticket last time. The party has three members in the legislative council too.The Karnataka BJP has weaned away several important JD(U) leaders since, including Basavaraj Bommai, son of founder president of JD(U), S R Bommai. The argument of Karnataka BJP leaders is that the JD(U) is no longer a force and therefore, there is no need for any adjustment. The actual gameplan is to make every potential winner seek a BJP ticket.Taking a hardline, Sharad Yadav had initially refused to take part in the recent NDA meeting attended by chief ministers and party presidents. However, he relented later. Earlier, he had boycotted an NDA meeting convened to discuss floor co-ordination in Parliament. Thereafter, NDA’s Prime Minister candidate L K Advani gave him an assurance that there would be no poaching from JD(U) ranks.If reports from the JD(U) camp are to be believed, the party may adopt a tough line. Given the keenness of BJP to keep NDA afloat, it is likely to pay off.
