{"id":27322,"date":"2026-01-09T08:20:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T08:20:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/09\/shivakumar-claims-potential-bjp-jds-merger-on-cards-kumaraswamy-hits-back-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T08:20:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T08:20:54","slug":"shivakumar-claims-potential-bjp-jds-merger-on-cards-kumaraswamy-hits-back-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/09\/shivakumar-claims-potential-bjp-jds-merger-on-cards-kumaraswamy-hits-back-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Shivakumar Claims Potential BJP-JDS Merger On Cards, Kumaraswamy Hits Back | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9819237\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">January 09, 2026, 11:57 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9819237\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3719593842 asubttl-schema\">Shivakumar said that such a merger would be welcomed by the Congress as it would simplify the political landscape into a direct contest against the BJP in Karnataka.<\/h2>\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" title=\"font\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 artsharwrp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Shivakumar%20Claims%20Potential%20BJP-JDS%20Merger%20On%20Cards%2C%20Kumaraswamy%20Hits%20Back - %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/shivakumar-claims-potential-bjp-jds-merger-on-cards-kumaraswamy-hits-back-ws-l-9819237.html%3Futm_source%3Dwhatsapp%26utm_medium%3Dsocial_share%26utm_campaign%3Dnw18english%0D%0A %0D%0A Get the latest news anytime, anywhere. Install News18 app for free! %0D%0Ahttps:\/\/onelink.to\/website-share-eng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 sclrnd wapp social_share\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 notifycnt social_share\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_share_icon.svg\" alt=\"new share icon\" title=\"new share icon\" width=\"8\" height=\"9\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 social_share\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/new_whatsapp_icon.svg\" alt=\"new whatsapp icon\" title=\"new whatsapp icon\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" class=\"jsx-ea217851d88955e2 social_share\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3719593842\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3719593842 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar (Left) and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy.\" title=\"Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar (Left) and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy.\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3719593842\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar (Left) and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President DK Shivakumar sparked a fresh political row by claiming that the Janata Dal (Secular) is on the verge of merging with the Bharatiya Janata Party.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">Speaking at an event to induct former Chamarajpet JDS leader Govindaraj into the Congress party, Shivakumar suggested that the current political approach of former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy indicates a future where the two opposition parties become a single entity. He noted that such a development would be welcomed by the Congress as it would simplify the political landscape into a direct contest against the BJP.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">According to the Deputy Chief Minister, the lack of a clear arrangement between the JDS and BJP has led to widespread confusion among opposition candidates, many of whom are now looking towards the Congress for their political future. Shivakumar highlighted the surge in interest for Congress tickets, noting that 779 applications have already been distributed for the upcoming corporation elections across five newly proposed zones in Bengaluru. He criticised the JDS for lacking a distinct ideology and accused the leadership of treating the political organisation like private property rather than a public institution.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">The remarks drew a sharp and stinging rebuttal from Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who took to social media to dismiss the merger talk and challenge Shivakumar\u2019s administrative record. Kumaraswamy suggested that the Deputy Chief Minister should focus on governance rather than the internal affairs of other parties. He stated that while he has served as Chief Minister and Opposition Leader through the grace of the people, his experience does not include the \u201cextortion, looting, and commission-seeking&#8221; that he associated with the Deputy Chief Minister\u2019s political style.<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">The exchange grew more personal as Kumaraswamy accused Shivakumar of overstepping his official boundaries, specifically citing a recent meeting the Deputy Chief Minister held with police officials in Ballari.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">Kumaraswamy argued that such meetings fall strictly under the jurisdiction of the Home Minister or the Chief Minister, questioning whether the current Home Minister was being treated as a mere \u201crubber stamp.&#8221; He further alleged that Shivakumar is a specialist in \u201cencroachment,&#8221; referring not only to land issues but also to the perceived hijacking of other ministers\u2019 portfolios and constitutional protocols.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3719593842 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>January 09, 2026, 11:57 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3719593842 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/\">politics<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> Shivakumar Claims Potential BJP-JDS Merger On Cards, Kumaraswamy Hits Back<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-3719593842 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/shivakumar-claims-potential-bjp-jds-merger-on-cards-kumaraswamy-hits-back-ws-l-9819237.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:January 09, 2026, 11:57 IST Shivakumar said that such a merger would be welcomed by the Congress as it would simplify the political landscape into a direct contest against the BJP in Karnataka. Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar (Left) and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President DK Shivakumar sparked a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27322","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27322"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27322\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}