Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Oct 24: Even as political equations in the state are undergoing a sea-change, and leaders of the three major parties in the state are busy making preparations for the upcoming bypoll, dissidence is rocking the JD(S) in a big way, as per information. Frustrated at the principle of family politics followed by the party, a number of MLAs and MLCs as well as other leaders are preparing ground for joining the national parties, the BJP and the Congress, it is learnt.
Sources within the party expect about six to nine party MLAs and MLCs to cross over to the above two parties within a few days. Their change of loyalties may prove costly for the JD(S), which has already suffered the consequences of running the coalition government in the state with the support of the Congress. Their departure can change equations in the assembly constituencies earlier represented by the disqualified MLAs which will go to bypoll shortly, and pave way for the bypoll to turn into a showdown between the Congress and the BJP, sources say.
H D Deve Gowda
Many leaders are happy with the way national president of the JD(S) H D Deve Gowda, has been running the party and giving importance to legislators. However, it is said that all powers are now centralized with his son, who has been managing things as per his own wishes, which has been giving rise to dissidence.
When the assembly election was held in 2018, MLAs Zameer Ahmed Khan, Akhanda Srinivas and Cheluvanarayanaswamy had left JD(S) and joined the Congress. During the Lok Sabha election, several more leaders joined the national parties. Veteran JD(S) leader and the then minister, G T Devegowda, had dropped enough hints at joining the BJP.
In spite of efforts being put in by H D Deve Gowda, the situation in the party has not been showing any improvements. The party leaders are desperate at the spate of resignations that is looming charge on the party. What step Deve Gowda will take now to rescue the sinking fortunes of the party is being watched by political circles with lot of expectations.