Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Aug 6: Adagur H Vishwanath was appointed as the state unit chief of JD (S) by H D Deve Gowda, supremo of the party on Sunday, August 5. This means that H D Kumaraswamy, who had held this position till now, is relieved of his responsibilities.
The appointment of Vishwanath to the coveted post is seen as an intelligent move by the party leaders as he belongs to the backward Kuruba community. Traditionally, JD (S) is considered as a party that is ruled by the Vokkaliga community. This change will augur well for the party to widen its base in the society.
After Lingayats and Vokkaligas, Kuruba community is the third strongest community in terms of the number of voters.
The news was making rounds for two weeks about reducing the responsibility of Kumaraswamy by giving the post of the party president to someone else. It was certain that Vishwanath was the obvious choice.
Speaking to the scribes, after his elevation, an elated Vishwanath said, "I will take the seniors of the party, office-bearers and the workers into confidence and strive to live up to the expectations of the party leadership."
It may be recalled that Vishwanath, a former Congressman, had joined JD (S) only in May, just before the Assembly elections. He is former MP as well as three-time MLA and is considered as a brilliant brain in forming strategies.
Vishwanath said that he will plan a strategy for the upcoming local body elections as well as the next general elections after discussing the same with eminent leaders of the party like Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy and others.
Vishwanath stressed on widening the base of the party in North Karnataka, where it has hardly any presence. There is also resentment in the North Karnataka public about JD (S) and it is seen as a party that has presence only in the districts of Hassan, Ramanagara, Mandya and Mysuru.
Vishwanath was a close aide of Siddaramaiah, former CM and Siddaramaiah had joined Congress because of him.
In a reply to a query on whether he is expected to give a strong fight to Siddaramaiah, he said that Siddaramaiah started his political career in JD (S) itself and it is foolishness to think anything bad about him.