Bengaluru: The two factions of the Janata Dal (United), which spilt over the issue of forming the government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar last year, are set to clash, albeit in a limited way, in Karnataka.

While the Sharad Yadav-led group of the JD(U) started its parleys with party workers in Bengaluru on Friday with Yadav presiding over a series of meetings, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar is set to arrive in the city on April 11 to decide on a possible alliance for the party.

“Karnataka election is like a semi-final ahead of the 2019 parliamentary elections. We want to defeat the BJP in the semi-final itself,” said Yadav, who opposed Kumar’s decision to ally with the BJP by severing ties with the RJD.

“We are discussing with party workers here to form an alliance,” he added. According to group’s State leader M.P. Nadagouda they would be part of a secular alliance opposed to the BJP, and the decision would be made by national leaders.

Meanwhile, the other faction of the JD (U) is seeking an alliance with the BJP in select constituencies, and is awaiting the arrival of party’s general secretary and Karnataka in charge Sanjay Jha in the first week of April. His visit will be followed by that of Kumar on April 11.