Bengaluru: Contrary to claims by JD(S)LP leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy that the meeting on Wednesday had ironed out most differences among party leaders, a number of core issues appear to be bothering them still.
Worrying many is the party’s dwindling support in what were once considered its strongholds. While the JD(S) had a presence in almost all districts and a strong base in the old-Mysore region not so long ago, it has become almost insignificant in most of North Karnataka today. The party is also faring badly in districts like Kolar, Chamarajnagar and Mysore.
Erosion of support among a number of castes and communities is causing concern as well. In 2008, the party lost the backing of the Lingayats when it did not hand over power to community strongman, B.S. Yeddyurappa of the BJP, and later Kuruba support when Mr Siddaramaiah left the JD(S). Even its three prominent minority leaders, Abdul Azeem, Iqbal Ansari and Zameer Ahamed Khan are reportedly unhappy with it.
“Earlier, whenever a community felt let down by the Congress, it looked to the Janata Dal as an alternative. But now the BJP is slowly becoming acceptable even among the backward and SC/ST communities.
“Unless drastic steps are taken to improve the party’s standing among all communities, it will have a tough time in days to come,” warns a party leader.
Most leaders also feel they don’t have much of a role to play when it comes to building the party organisation. While legislators on Wednesday suggested the forming of a core committee and appointing a non-Vokkaliga as state state president as a way out, neither move is expected to help much.
“This has been tried earlier. Mr A Krishnappa was party president for a brief period and before him it was Mr Basannagouda Patil Yatnal, who made some effort to build the party but felt so suffocated that he quit. Most decisions were taken without or against his consent,” recalls a party leader, adding, “We are not optimistic about the core committee either. Who has the guts to talk against the wishes of the Gowda family?”
