Amid conflicting signals from big brother BJP, the JD(U) is preparing itself to go it alone in the Karnataka Assembly polls.

Key Karnataka JD(U) leaders have returned to Bangalore after waiting in vain for seat-sharing talks between the two parties. JD(U) president Sharad Yadav has approached BJP president Rajnath Singh for a tie-up, but there has been no follow-up action. “If left with no choice, we would contest as many seats as we can and let both parties suffer in the process,” a senior party leader told The Indian Express here on Monday.

JD(U) leaders do not know what to make of the different voices emerging from the saffron party. A day after BJP chief Rajnath Singh said here that both parties would jointly go to the polls, party’s chief ministerial candidate B S Yedyyurappa rejected any scope of an alliance.

The JD(U) camp is despondent because of the manner in which the BJP has ignored the party, but it is a little early to predict how far the JD(U) leadership would use its leverage in New Delhi to force a seat-adjustment in Karnataka.

An announcement of a break-off may jolt the BJP, but it is not easy—the JD(U) cannot jeopardise its coalition Government in Patna. Yadav would prefer a tough posture, but he has to take Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on board too.

Before leaving for Bangalore, Karnataka JD(U) leaders have left a list of 20 seats, which they would want the party high command to seek from the BJP. This is five short of the 25 seats, which the JD(U) contested last time. On the other hand, the BJP has not even conceded the five seats which the JD(U) had won last time.

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