Bangalore, Feb 28: The truncated All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD), shattered already by mass exodus of its leaders to other parties, on Saturday decided to forge an alliance with the NDA.
AIPJD president SR Bommai, in the company of NDA convenor and Defence Minister George Fernandes, announced at a press conference in Bangalore that his party would join hands with the NDA and the seat sharing arrangement would be discussed later.
Bommai ruled out AIPJD merging with Janata Party, declaring that the party's identity would be maintained.
He said it has become inevitable for AIPJD to go with NDA, but rejected a suggestion that it was opportunistic politics.
Bommai also brushed aside a query as to what would happen if BJP's Karnataka unit opposed its entry into NDA, saying "with Prime Minister AB Vajpayee himself being the head of the NDA, such a thing would not happen".
Fernandes said to strengthen NDA he had two rounds of talks with Bommai since last night and the latter agreed to join NDA.
The NDA roped in Janata Dal (U) in the 1999 general elections in Karnataka, but was humbled by the Congress.
While NDA could win 10 Lok Sabha seats -- BJP 7 and JDU 3, the alliance managed victory in 62 assembly seats -- BJP 43 and JD (U) 19. Bureau Report