bengaluru the newfound bonhomie between the bjp and jds has given way to talks about both parties sinking their mutual differences and becoming one entity ahead of the 2023 assembly pollsbut experts and senior functionaries of both the parties have dismissed the possibility of merger despite the similarity of their political agendas it makes sense to support the bjp on an issuebyissue basis but the question of merging with them looks very unlikely at this stage there may be electoral accommodations for the next assembly elections to minimise splitting of vote but not merger said a senior jds functionary he said an alliance like the one they have now would be more workable than a mergerthe chances of mlas and other leaders of jds getting any significant positions in the saffron party are also bleakif a merger should happen jds face hd kumaraswamy would not accept anything less than the cms position not just him leaders of the two parties from the grassroots to the highest levels would have to give way to one another so i dont see it happening after a merger there would be fights over party positions and seat allocations from the top to the bottom said another jds functionarykumaraswamy would want to keep focus on consolidating his position as the cm by retaining jds identity if a merger were to happen he added bjp would be at the losing end because grassroot workers would be more inclined towards their leaders than the partyits not that the bjp is keen either mainly because the jds which had an alliance with both bjp and congress since 2004 under different governments has never been sincere to its partners state bjp veterans would not want a merger as their positions in a merged party would be at risk so they are likely to oppose such talks for now in future this might change said a bjp oldtimerbut some feel the parties can form a strong political force that will be strong enough to form the government on its ownas the two parties have a foothold in two different regions it would prove a deathknell for the congress which is increasingly looking to eat into the vote share of jds this also seems to be the aspiration of the people as it will produce a good mix of most competent candidates and will not divide votes between three political parties said another bjp figurebjp also wants to end the dominance of jds in old mysuru region especially mandya hassan and ramanagara districtsa merger would make sense for bjp as the stakes are particularly higher for the party the party has failed to win a simple majority in the last three assembly polls by accommodating jds functionaries it can get experienced and mass leaders to form a highly competent government said some party members