Hubballi: Suspended JD(S) MLA, Zameer Ahmed is gearing up to unite the Muslim community in North Karnataka to challenge party chief, H D Kumaraswamy's attempts to revive the JD(S) in the region.
Mr Ahmed, who represents Chamarajpet constituency in Bengaluru, has decided to hold the first convention of Muslims in the city on December 25 or January 1 to showcase his strength in the region and plans to hold similar conventions in the rest of North Karnataka where Mr Kumaraswamy too is eyeing at least 40 Assembly seats in the next elections.
“I plan to conduct at least one mega convention every month in the region to unite the Muslims. It is necessary to create awareness among them to stop division of votes between the JD(S) and Congress as that will help the BJP come to power in the state. I don’t need to take permission from the JD(S) to hold these conventions as BJP leader, K S Eshwarappa too is making similar moves to unite the Dalits and backward community people through the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade," he told the Deccan Chronicle , challenging the JD(S) top brass to dismiss him from the party for his actions.
Calling the attempt being made by Mr Kumaraswamy to revive the party in North Karnataka a futile exercise, he advised him to concentrate on the old Mysuru region, the party stronghold instead.
"Only a few JD(S) legislators have won previous Assembly elections in North Karnataka based on their personal support base. The JD(S) itself lost its deposit in the by-election to the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat seat last month despite Mr Kumaraswamy campaigning for the party candidate. He should not waste his time and energy to revive the party in a region where it has no backing," he added.
