JDS says its rise may act as platform to unite oppn parties

The rise of Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka may act as a platform to unite opposition parties, especially the regional parties to play a bigger role in the national arena during parliamentary elections in 2019, JD(S) has indicated.

Indicative of this is the invitation extended to leaders of regional parties to attend the swearing-in of the JDS-Congress coalition government in Karnataka on May 21.

UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi would be invited to the swearing-in ceremony, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, who would be sworn in as the next chief minister of Karnataka, told reporters.

"We have invited Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Bengal chief minister Mamata Bannerjee, BSP leader Mayawati, Samajwadi party leaderAkhilesh Yadav, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders from regional parties," Kumaraswamy said
.. Congress party's tie-up with regional parties inUttar Pradesh, Bihar, and now in Karnataka indicate that theregional parties will take a centrestage in the national politics. They will all come in one platform."