In the run-up to the Assembly elections in Karnataka, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said that discussions were on to enter into an alliance with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and other parties for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.He told reporters at Hubballi that AIMIM had “asked for three to four seats”.
This development has given the Congress party in Karnataka jitters as the grand old party could lose Muslim votes to AIMIM and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) which will be contesting on 100 out of the total 224 seats.
But, according to sources, the AIMIM wants to contest from at least 25 Assembly constituencies, especially those that have a significant population of Muslims.
Owaisi’s party wants the JD(S) to desist from fielding candidates in these segments.Muslims account for 13% of Karnataka’s population.
A week ago, AIMIM state president Usman Ghani had said that they had reached out to the JD(S) for an alliance, adding that the party would field candidates in 25 constituencies.
On whether JD(S) would contest all 224 seats in the coming polls, Kumaraswamy said that the party was looking for coalition partners in some seats.
“Whether the coalition will materialise is uncertain,” he said.
