Kumaraswamy dispels rumours of rift with Congress, says will fight Lok Sabha polls together

Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday dismissed reports of a rift between coalition partners Congress and the JD-s, saying the two parties would contest the next year's Lok Sabha elections together.

He added there had been no discussions on the seat-sharing arrangement between the two sides so far.

Kumaraswamy's remarks come amid reports of a rift between the two parties who share power in Karnataka with the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) hinting at going it alone in the next year's general election.

Talking to reporters here on his two-day visit to the national capital, the Karnataka Chief Minister said while there had been no talks of seat-sharing with the Congress, the alliance of the two parties was strong and would continue.

"There has been no discussion on seat-sharing with the Congress so far. When the discussion has not taken place, how can there be any question of a fight?" he said.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that it would form the new government in Karnataka by next week as it was in talks with 15 disgruntled MLAs from the ruling coalition.

"The alliance is strong and we will contest the Lok Sabha polls together," Kumaraswamy said.

The Karnataka Chief Minister met Water Minister and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Coal and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal and discussed various issues related to development of the state.

He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the drought situation and various irrigation projects for the state.

--IANS

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