BJP-JD(S): Marriage of convenience or emerging double engine?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) have formed an alliance in Karnataka ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Despite ideological differences, the two parties have joined forces to counter the dominance of the Congress party in the region. The BJP aims to make inroads in the Vokkaliga stronghold, where it has historically performed poorly. The alliance also seeks to consolidate support from the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities. However, there are concerns that this alliance may hurt the BJP more than the JD(S) in a three-way contest.