JD(S) struggling to gain foothold in north Karnataka

Unlike in the south, the party has no strong base in the region owing to exodus of its leaders to Congress and BJP during the previous Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. The party has not witnessed any revival even six months after the return of former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy as the state unit president.

On the other hand, the ruling Congress which won large number of Assembly seats, has gained much ground because its legislators are leaving no stone unturned to retain the rural vote-bank intact. Members of Parliament of BJP are also working on strategies to attract rural voters by highlighting various schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for rural development. And, while both parties have launched membership drives, JD(S) has been struggling to keep its base and depending on defectors from Congress and BJP for its revival. JD(S) has only six legislators in north Karnataka, and most of them are upset with the top brass for neglect of the region.

“I agree that our party workers have lost the spirit to prepare for Gram Panchayat elections. They are disillusioned with desertion of leaders to Congress and BJP as these parties are in power in the state and Centre respectively. It is only Mr Kumaraswamy who has to respond to the problems confronting the party in north Karnataka. These leaders should frequently visit to revive the party in the region,” JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti, MLC, told Deccan Chronicle, adding “I am rendered helpless as my activities are confined to teachers’ constituency. I am still hopeful of our party’s revival as it has some presence in several parts of north Karnataka.”