Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 22: Even as parties are preparing to face the ensuring taluk and zilla panchayat elections, dissidence has cropped up in JDS. In a jolt to the party leadership, state president of the party, H D Kumaraswamy (HDK), and veteran party MLA from Magadi constituency, H C Balakrishna, were involved with verbal duel.

The simmering discontent which was under the wraps till now, spilled into the open recently.

Balakrishna commented that JDS will find it difficult to rise to power in the next asse,n;u election on its own. He therefore, had suggested the party leadership that it would be wise to strike an understanding with a party that has bright chances of coming to power. Angered by this suggestion, HDK lashed out at Balakrishna by asking him to cross over to Congress, if he is driven by the greed for power. "Anyway, he has bright chance there, as ministry expansion plan is in progress in that party," he quipped.

In response, Balakrishna said that he does not crave for power, nor does he intend to join any other party. "If we remain in the opposition, achieving development of our constituencies poses a big problem. If the party strikes an understanding with the party that is expected to wrest power in the state, H D Revanna can become deputy chief minister," he retorted.

It is gathered that the JDS leaders are irked at the increasing closeness between Balakrishna and minister D K Shivakumar and MP, D K Suresh. They are worried over efforts being made by Congress leaders to woo Balakrishna into their fold. Balakrishna also had commented on the issue by expressing readiness to follow Kumaraswamy, who has shared power with Congress in BBMP, if he chooses to officially join Congress.

These exchanges have given rise to discussions within the party circles about the possibility of this difference snowballing into a bigger challenge for the party.