The meeting between former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy and Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Monday at New Delhi has sparked off speculations over a possible alignment between the two JD factions in the State ahead of the elections to Assembly next year, and more so for the general elections in 2024.
While discussions on a possible electoral understanding to counter BJP unitedly are on the way, JD(S) sources here did not rule out a possible merger of the two factions that split in 1999 though discussions are in preliminary stages. The merger, sources said, would give the combined entity strength to take leadership mantle of the bloc opposed to the BJP. Mr. Nitish Kumar is also likely to visit JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda if the formal plans firm up in the coming days, sources said.
