Bengaluru: JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday indicated that his party was interested in taking over the agriculture portfolio in the new NDA government. "Our party is interested in the agriculture portfolio. Our fight from the beginning has been to do good for the farming community," Kumaraswamy, who arrived in New Delhi to attend today's NDA meeting, told reporters.

At the same time, when asked about the 'demands' of JDS before the formation of the government, he said that we do not have any such demands. Our priority is to resolve the issues related to Karnataka, which have been pending with the Center for a long time. Narendra Modi will decide about giving representation (cabinet berth) to Karnataka in the Center. 

JDS joined NDA last year

The JDS, headed by former Prime Minister HD Devegowda and father of JDS leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, joined the NDA last year. The BJP and JDS contested the Lok Sabha elections together in Karnataka, which has a total of 28 seats. The BJP won 17 seats and the JDS two.

'Party is interested in Agriculture Department'

Regarding his ministerial aspirations, Kumaraswamy said the NDA leadership will decide on it. He said, "We will talk about it when the time comes. The leaders in Delhi know what appropriate decision should be taken for the situation there (in Karnataka). They will decide." At the same time, when asked about the speculation of him becoming the Agriculture Minister, he admitted that his party is interested in the agriculture department, "Let's see what decision is taken."

BJP needs the support of allies

The BJP won 240 seats, which is short of the majority figure of 272 and it needs the support of allies in the party-led NDA to form the government, a far cry from the 303 and 282 seats it won in 2019 and 2014 respectively, when it won a majority on its own.