Karnataka: BJP-JD(S) decide to set up coordination panel

Published 10 July 2026 · politics

After cross-voting in the Karnataka Legislative Council polls recently stunned Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners BJP and JD(S), they have decided to set up a coordination

After cross-voting in the Karnataka Legislative Council polls recently stunned Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners BJP and JD(S), they have decided to set up a coordination committee. The formal coordination mechanism is coming nearly two years after the JD(S), a regional party, joined the alliance. Lack of coordination between the parties and its leaders was one of the reasons attributed to frequent stress in the alliance, which peaked during the recently held polls for the Upper House. The idea to set up a coordination committee was being pushed by the JD(S), but it was resisted by a few leaders in the saffron party.

After the poll jolt, BJP Central leaders are learnt to have insisted on better coordination between the two alliance partners, sources said. Panel members BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra, who met Union Minister and JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday (July 10), said that besides him, the coordination committee will include Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashok, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Mr. Kumaraswamy. The JD(S) has been asked to nominate one more person to the panel. “This has been discussed with Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, BJP General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka.

We have to go together as per the wishes of the BJP national president. The decision was taken to protect the interests of the State as well as both parties,” he said. JD(S) sources said that the BJP has taken cross-voting very seriously and that the JD(S) leaders are also in constant touch with the BJP Central leadership following the issue. “Things are clear and there is no confusion now,” they added. Ensuing polls The decision to set up the committee is coming ahead of the byelections to Dharwad Rural and Hiriyur Assembly Constituencies’ seats, which have fallen vacant due to the disqualification of Vinay Kulkarni and the death of former Minister D.

Sudhakar, respectively. Elections to four Legislative Council seats are also coming up. Of these, the BJP has already announced candidates for three constituencies. While Mr. Vijayendra did not elaborate on plans for the bypolls, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that the JD(S) wants to contest the Hiriyur seat. “We have organisational strength in Hiriyur and we are not pitching for Dharwad Rural. Kumaraswamy has spoken about the Hiriyur seat with Mr. Vijayendra,” said a JD(S) functionary.