BENGALURU: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular)leader HD Deve Gowda revealed that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had agreed to the move of JD(S) to form an alliance with the BJP in Karnataka. Deve Gowda also said this is why a minister from the JD(S) is still continuing in the LDF government in Kerala. Deve Gowda made the controversial statement during a press conference called to announce the expulsion of JD(S) Karnataka president C M Ibrahim from the party.

"Pinarayi Vijayan has understood that the JD(S) formed an alliance with the BJP to save the party. Hence, he has given full consent to the formation of the alliance in Kerala. The Kerala unit of the JD(S) remains in the JD(S). It has also given consent to the BJP-JD(S) alliance," Deve Gowda said.

The Kerala unit of the JD(S) had earlier announced that it would remain in the LDF and would oppose the alliance with the BJP. The state executive committee meeting of the Kerala unit had also passed a resolution against the decision to join the NDA alliance.

Meanwhile, the CPM has found itself on the defensive following the revelation made by Deve Gowda. Lashing out at the Chief Minister, former Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the undercurrent between Pinarayi and the BJP got exposed with Deve Gowda's revelation. He also added that the second Pinarayi government is a child of the BJP. Shashi Tharoor MP has also urged the Chief Minister to respond on the matter.