Bengaluru, 15 November

Senior BJP leader R Ashoka on Sunday expressed confidence that the saffron party would contest the upcoming Hiriyur Assembly bypoll, but indicated that the issue of seat-sharing with alliance partner JD(S) remained unresolved.

The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly said he would also speak to JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy and expressed confidence that the BJP's central leadership would persuade its ally to concede the seat to the BJP.

Kumaraswamy had recently said JD(S) leaders and workers favoured the party fielding the NDA candidate for the Hiriyur bypoll.

Ashoka also made it clear that the State BJP unit would abide by the decision of the BJP's central leadership.

The Hiriyur Assembly seat fell vacant following the death of Congress MLA and then minister D Sudhakar.

Asked about suggestions that the BJP and JD(S), both NDA partners, should consider friendly contests in the upcoming Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections, Ashoka said there was a broad consensus in favour of coordination between the two parties in Karnataka.