Daijiworld Media Network - Vijayapura (SP)
Vijayapura, Jul 23: Former chief minister of Karnataka, H D Kumaraswamy, announced that assembly election 2018 will be his last political battle if his party is not voted to power in that election. "If people give us mandate like the way they have given to BJP and Congress in certain states, we will show what people-friendly governance means," he stated.
Addressing a press conference at Devarahipparagi in Muddebihal taluk of the district on Friday July 22, Kumaraswamy felt that regional parties will find it difficult to survive between Congress and BJP unless they are able to win over confidence of the people. "While the BJP is aiming at freeing the country of Congress, Congress is trying to unseat BJP at any cost. My agenda is to free farmers of their debt. In the next election, irrigation, support price for farm products and such other development-oriented issues will be our party's agenda," he explained.
Kumaraswamy said that his party is facing reverses because people keep deserting his party. "Just because Zameer Ahmed left us, it does not mean that Muslims have lost faith in us. They are with us. Three legislators including Bandi Siddegowda have not expressed desire to come back to JDS as claimed by certain media reports. Even if they express interest, we will not take them back. From September onwards, I will be fully active with party organization work and I will devote 20 hours each day for this purpose. JDS is in need of an able leader in north Karnataka. In the past, we had given power to Basanagouda Patil Yetnal, but he let me down. We have an army of enthusiastic leaders like Basavaraj Horatti and A S Patil Nadahalli. We propose to hand over party leadership in north Karnataka to these people in the future," Kumaraswamy stated.
It is to be seen whether the former chief minister will keep his word. Going by previous records of people who repeatedly talked of retiring from politics, barring a couple of politicians, none have kept their word and chances of Kumaraswamy sticking to his announcement therefore appear to be bleak. Naturally they have their reasons like pressure from party activists.