JD(S) State unit’s youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy said the State and national leaders of both BJP and JD(S) will have to take a final decision on the alliance between two parties for the coming elections to Zilla and Taluk panchayats.

Addressing a press conference in Mysuru after holding a meeting with MLAs, former MLAs and district level leaders of Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Kodagu districts in Mysuru on Tuesday, Mr. Nikhil admitted that aspirants will be there from both the parties, but added that he was optimistic that the leadership of both the parties will take appropriate decisions after taking everybody into confidence.

He recalled that the alliance partners had won 19 out of the 28 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections on account of the understanding displayed by grassroots workers of both the parties.

He pointed out that the political scenario was different from one district to another and added that choice of candidates will be finalised in consultation with local leaders after the reservation categories are finalised.

With regard to questions on speculation over his appointment as president of State unit of JD(S), Mr. Nikhil Kumaraswamy said the matter has not been discussed in any party forum. He said the issue is appearing only in the media.

He said many senior leaders in the party including himself firmly believed that Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy should himself continue as the party’s State unit president.

He said he was holding a meeting of leaders of the three districts to gather opinion for the upcoming local body polls on the directions of the party’s State leadership.

He said the party will soon conduct a membership drive and added that a missed call membership campaign will be launched across the State soon.

Responding to queries on the stone pelting incident outside Udayagiri police station in Mysuru, the JD(S) leader expressed concern over the collapse of law and order situation in the State. He also criticised the Lokayukta police’s probe into the alleged MUDA ‘scam.’

JD(S) MLAs Manjunath representing Hanur and G.D. Harish Gowda representing Hunsur, former MLAs K. Mahadev and Ashwin Kumar and C.N. Manjegowd, MLC, were among the leaders who attending the meeting in Mysuru on Tuesday.