Bangalore: JD(S) Rally Sends Out a Clear Message to Political Rivals
The Hindu
Bangalore, Nov 18: In what could be described as an unprecedented show of strength of a political party in Bangalore, the Janata Dal (Secular) on Monday organised a major political convention to exhibit to its political rivals and to the people of the State that the party just cannot be written off irrespective of the manner in which some of its legislators have been poached, in particular, by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The sprawling grounds of the Bangalore Palace was a sea of people.
They had come from all parts of the State to witness the former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy take over as president of the Karnataka unit of the party, formally.
The attendance in such large numbers is a clear indication that the Janata Dal (S) is still an important political player in Karnataka.
It also sends out the message that if the influence of the BJP is to be countered, the secular parties must come together to prevent the division of their (secular) votes.
Defection
In the May 2008 elections, the party won 28 seats and thereafter four of its legislators—Umesh Katti (Hukkeri), Balachandra Jarkiholi (Arabhavi), Gowrishankar (Madhugiri) and Shivanagouda Nayak (Deodurga) — crossed over to the BJP. Yet another legislator, M.S. Siddaraju (Maddur) died, resulting in the party’s strength in the 13th Legislative Assembly being reduced to 23.
Overwhelmed by the success of the meeting, described as “Kayakalpa Pratijna Samavesha,” the former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy told that they were ready to face the elections alone.
“No party can take the Janata Dal (S) for granted. It is also not a father-son or a family party as is being made out to be. From now on, every effort will be made to rejuvenate and strengthen the party at all levels,” Kumaraswamy said.
“Our party remains united irrespective of the continuing efforts to poach our legislators. More than anything our workers are with us and this has been amply exhibited at the meeting,” the former Chief Minister said.
The Janata Dal (S) is not too keen to go with the Congress in the byelections to the eight Assembly seats which are crucial to the BJP that incidentally lost all seats by big margins in the last elections. A victory in at least three constituencies will help the BJP attain a simple majority of 113 in the 225-member assembly. Presently, the ruling party is dependant on six independents who have extended support to the Government.
The leadership of the Janata Dal (S) has also sought to convey to the Congress high command that it has to first set its house in order in Karnataka before engaging the Janata Dal (S) in a discussion that could lead to an alliance. The State Congress is divided over an alliance with the Janata Dal (S) given the fact that a number of Congress leaders were earlier part of the Janata Dal (S).
The Janata Dal (S) is now on a new journey to win over the support of the people on its own rather than go with the Congress which failed to positively respond after the Janata Dal (S) cut its ties with the BJP, resulting in the fall of the week-old B.S. Yeddyurappa Government in November 2007.