JDU 145;alive146; in Karnataka as big brother relents

After several days of intense negotiations and a highly caustic exchange, the BJP relented 8212; it stopped questioning JDU8217;s political relevance in Karnataka and agreed to leave the party a few Parliamentary and Assembly seats.

The JDU has been given four Parliamentary and 25 Assembly seats, while BJP will contest in 199 Assembly and 24 Lok Sabha seats. When asked if JDU was happy to accept less than half the seats it wanted, JD U leader and External Affairs Minister, Digvijay Singh expressed satisfaction.

At NDA convenor George Fernandes8217; residence today, leaders of both parties said they were happy with the developments. Prospective Karnataka-based JD U nominees were relieved that their leader, Fernandes, had been able to keep JD U alive in the state.

Negotiations have been going on over the past few days to ensure an electoral understanding with BJP. After the Karnataka BJP unit made it clear that it would be better off without JD U, Fernandes rushed to Nagpur to convince Deputy PM, L.K. Advani.