Date:06/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040659221000.htm

National

BJP set to ally with JD(U)

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: There will be an alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (United) in Karnataka, BJP president Rajnath Singh confirmed here on Saturday.

Negotiations between the parties are on and are expected to conclude in a few days.

In the last Assembly elections in 2004, the BJP gave 25 of the total 224 seats to the JD(U). It seems that the JD(U) will expect a similar arrangement. The parties entered into an alliance even for the Lok Sabha poll of 2004, with the JD(U) contesting four Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. Since the Assembly elections this time will take place after delimitation that has changed the character of some constituencies, the possibility of the BJP and the JD(U) exchanging some seats is not being ruled out.