Bengaluru: A new face will lead the state unit of JD(S), according to party patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda. On Saturday, Gowda, who chaired a meeting where other senior leaders, including Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, participated, said with the latter busy executing his duty as head of the state government would not be in a position of devote time for party matters. “We have to select a new president and very soon, we meet again to set in motion the process for selecting a new president,” he added.
Gowda said that a committee would be constituted to shortlist names of potential candidates after which a leader would be chosen to lead the state unit.
Sources in the party said late chief minister and backward classes leader S. Bangarappa’s younger son Madhu Bangarappa, who lost the Assembly elections, could succeed Kumaraswamy.
Madhu Bangarappa, who lost to his elder brother Kumar Bangarappa, belongs to the Ediga community which has strong presence in five to six disticts.
Gowda also said reconstitution of the state unit should not be stumbling block ahead of local body elections.
“The party should not face any hurdles for the coming Lok Sabha elections,” Gowda said.
Replying to questions, Gowda said the meeting did not discuss anything pertaining to Lok Sabha elections or issues such as seat sharing with its coalition partner.
