Bangalore: In a setback for the Janata Dal Secular (JDS), a senior leader has resigned from the party following the decision by party supremo HD Deve Gowda to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday in preparation for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Syed Shaifullah, the Senior Vice President of JD(S) in Karnataka, announced his resignation from the party in response to JD(S) aligning with the BJP. He expressed concerns that this alliance would create divisions along community and caste lines, which contradicts the JD(S)'s historical commitment to secularism. Shaifullah, who had been with the party for the past 30 years, emphasized the party's longstanding dedication to secular principles and its advocacy for these values among voters and the general public. He remarked, "Now, if my party is joining hands with a party that fosters divisions between communities and promotes a communal agenda, we, as secular leaders, oppose it."

Highlighting the issues witnessed during the BJP's tenure in Karnataka, Shaifullah stated, "This is not the way our country should progress. Secular forces cannot align with the BJP, which exacerbates divisions among people." He further noted the difficulty he and others like him face in adapting to this new alignment, expressing his reservations about the prevailing atmosphere of hate in the country. He said, "Even for the sake of survival, individuals like me find it challenging to acclimate to the prevailing mindset and the propagation of hatred in the country."

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