The game for power in Karnataka is going on and leaders of both Congress and JD(S) are singing praises of each other since yesterday after they decided to form an alliance. But things were not so pleasant and happy between these two parties. During the campaign in the run-up to elections, there were many instances when Congress leaders were seen openly criticising the JD(S)

Speaking at a rally in Devanahalli, Congress President Rahul Gandhi declared that the JD(S) has changed its name from Janata Dal (Secular) to Janata Dal (Sangh) Parivar for this election. Criticising the party leadership for allegedly tilting towards the BJP, Gandhi said, “In their name, there is S that stands for Secular. But in this election, it looks like Janata Dal has changed its name and Janata Dal(S) means Janata Dal Sangh Parivar.”

That was not the first time Rahul Gandhi had lashed out at JD(S) either. Earlier too, he had called the JD(S) as the ‘B team‘ of BJP.

Spit-n-lick moment for Congress & @RahulGandhi–

JD(S) is B-team of BJP. Their only job is to help BJP & make them win Rahul does it often. In UP he said ’27 Saal, UP Behaal’ & then allied with SP. pic.twitter.com/Zxs7BLHm0W — Sumeet Joshi (@SJoshiRaj) May 15, 2018

Former CM Siddaramaiah, who since yesterday, has been declaring unconditional support to the JD(S) and its leader HD Kumaraswamy has also attacked the party and leadership many times.

There is a tacit understanding between BJP &JDS to defeat us. Now the #Reddybrothers have also joined the BJP to loot the mineral wealth again. Karnataka defeated them in 2013. They are ready to do the same again.#KarnatakaDefeatsBJP #CongressMathomme https://t.co/SFJ8MNuXWZ — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 23, 2018

It is a Siddaramaiah vs BSY+Reddy bros+HDK contest. I don’t see BSY campaigning here. So they are importing Yogi who could not retain his own constituency & has brought #JungleRaj in UP. Good luck to them.#Congress https://t.co/X8Krwsm2cQ — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 26, 2018

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Siddaramaiah had also called the JD(S)N as the ‘vote cutting party’. According to reports, he had earlier called the JD(S) leaders businessmen who had no morality or ethics. Siddaramaiah’s dislike for the JD(S) leadership is understandable because, in 2005, he himself was thrown out of the JD(S) due to alleged ‘anti-party’ activities after differences with HD Kumaraswamy.

Even in this elections, Siddaramaiah suffered a humiliating defeat from JD(S) leader GT Deve Gowda in his own Chamundeshwari constituency. He has lost by a huge margin of 36,000 votes. GT Deve Gowda later went ahead to state that Siddaramaiah has lost due to his arrogance and loose talk. Just a couple of hours later, both leaders were swearing support for each other to form a government. This is what Siddaramaiah had to say about GT Deve Gowda before elections.

GT Deve Gowda of JDS says “where JDS candidate is strong BJP voters will vote JDS & where BJP is strong JDS voters will vote BJP.” The secret understanding between BJP & JDS is not no secret anymore. Time for JDS to shed secular pretensions.https://t.co/GGFbtqujOS — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 27, 2018

Even HD Kumaraswamy, the proposed CM candidate and JD(S) leader, has reportedly told earlier that Siddaramaiah does not want JD(S) to back Congress because he does not want his rivals in the party to become CM.

The two parties, who were openly calling out each other all throughout the campaign have since yesterday been busy hailing each other’s support and claiming bonhomie.