But it has been media practice to keep trotting “JDS fighting for survival” headlines whenever there is assembly or Lok Sabha elections. The BJP and the Congress are not seen fighting for “survival”, when every five years, one of the two is sent packing by the Karnataka voter. The Congress and BJP take turns at governing and are declared in fine fettle even after losing elections.

The same does not apply to the JDS. But if “survival” is criteria, and alliance a distress signal, then the INDI-Alliance must also be for “political survival” of each and every political party in the INDIA bloc. The Janata Dal Secular has been battling the stigma of “fighting for political survival” for nearly two decades.

Kumaraswamy was asked the question “are you in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata for your party’s political survival"? The Janata Dal Secular leader said the BJP and JDS share good vibes and mutual interests; that if it was a “matter of existence” people toeing the line were barking up the wrong tree.

He spoke of “a strategic move based on a long-term vision”, which does not sound like “Janata Dal (Secular) is fighting for its political survival”. That Janata Dal (Secular) has been struggling to make a mark does not make it a party in its death throes. Janata Dal (Secular) has won elections and has also tasted power. Janata Dal Secular has won Parliament seats. Kumaraswamy is himself in the fray from Mandya and there is a gargantuan effort being put in to ensure his victory.

Besides, the BJP decided on an alliance with the Janata Dal Secular for what JDS brings to the table. The BJP will gain from the tie-up and vice versa. Janata Dal (Secular)’s electoral strength has been tested before and the party has delivered. The BJP-JDS alliance bothers the Congress which should be reason enough to declare Janata Dal Secular "fighting fit".

The BJP’s decision to join forces with Janata Dal Secular is not to save JDS from extinction. It is about “mutual interests”. In certain parts of Karnataka, Janata Dal Secular enjoys special clout, as it does among certain groups of people. Like, for example, the Vokkaliga community. The BJP can do with Vokkaliga votes as much as the Congress wouldn’t want to lose Vokkaliga votes.

For the Lok Sabha elections at least, the Congress is the adversary and the party to beat. Janata Dal (Secular) doesn’t think fighting the Congress to win Parliament seats is a matter of life and death for the Karnataka-based political party. In the Janata Dal (Secular)’s book, just like in any political party’s book, elections come and go, assembly elections as well as parliamentary elections.

The Janata Dal Secular is in the midst of yet another Lok Sabha elections and to characterize Janata Dal Secular’s participation in general election 2024 as “Janata Dal Secular is fighting for its political survival” is reading too much between the lines and a convenient canard. On June 4 the final word on this chapter in Janata Dal (Secular) history will be written and it wouldn't be about Janata Dal (Secular)'s fight for political survival.

On April 26 voting for as many as 14 Karnataka Lok Sabha constituencies took place, among them all the Bengaluru seats. That the BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance was not fighting for Janata Dal (Secular)'s political survival was apparent. If anything, the alliance is a sign that Janata Dal (Secular) continues to be a significant political player in Karnataka. (IPA Service)