Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) leader and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday announced that his party has decided to work together with the BJP as the opposition in the interest of the state. He said party supremo and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda has authorized him to take any final decision regarding the party.

Amid reports of JDS's possible alliance with the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, HD Kumaraswamy said there is still time ahead of the Parliament elections to talk about it. Kumaraswamy was replying to a question on the discussion held at the JDS Legislature Party meeting on Thursday night. Deve Gowda also attended the Legislature Party meeting.

He said that I have already said inside and outside the assembly, since both BJP and JDS are opposition parties, it has been decided to work together in the interest of the state. This morning also the MLAs of our party discussed how we have to move forward. Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, he said, in the Legislature Party meeting, Deve Gowda has advised that after taking opinion of all leaders, a 10-member team will be formed with representation of all communities for party organization and to raise voice against the misdeeds of this (Congress) government in all 31 districts.

He further said that there is still 11 months for the Parliament elections. Let's see when the Parliament elections are held. It has been advised to organize the party. He also said that Deve Gowda has authorized me to take any final decision regarding the party. Let us tell you that in the 224-member assembly elections held in May, Congress got 135 seats, while BJP got 66 and JDS got 19 seats.