Hubli: Faced with an exodus of party leaders to BJP and Congress in North Karnataka, JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy has shifted focus to the region to revive the party. He is planning to camp in the city for at least 5-6 days in a month to supervise party activities in the region.
Party leaders are searching for a rental house in the city as per the direction of their leader. Mr Kumaraswamy himself had disclosed his intention during a visit to the region to study the crop damage due to excess rainfall. He is making all preparations to strengthen the party ahead of elections to the Gram Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats next year.
Accusing the JD(S) top brass of neglecting the party in North Karnataka, a large numbers of leaders have deserted the party during the previous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Failure of both Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Deve Gowda to campaign in the region had irked party leaders. The party has been struggling for survival as Kumaraswamy’s Cash for seat row has dampened the spirit of party workers. The JD(S) leader is planning to instill confidence among workers before the panchayat elections by camping in the city.
“We have been looking for a suitable rental house for Mr Kumaraswamy to conduct party programmes. This will be finalized during his visit in the next few days. His move has brought new hope to party leaders as JD(S) is like a manufacturing hub for new leaders. The party has maintained its existence despite split of Janata Dal.
Therefore, we are hopeful that deserted leaders of the party working in Congress and BJP will return to the party fold”, said JD(S) leader and Navalgund MLA N H Konareddy. The JD(S) has only four MLAs in North Karnataka.
