“Ensure that the party wins 12 to 16 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and see how [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi and other parties will come running to Karnataka's doorstep.” These were the words of Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy as he made a fervent plea to workers of the Janata Dal (Secular) during a meeting of district heads at Bengaluru on Thursday.
Slamming critics, Kumaraswamy said there was propaganda being circulated against his family, and his party was being mocked as Appa-Makkala (father-sons) party.
“They [critics] label us as anti-north Karnataka too. But let me remind you H.D. Deve Gowda (his father) was the first to allocate Rs 1,000 crore per year for five years, for the Krishna Basin projects. Unless, the Upper Krishna Project is declared a national project, you cannot dream of harnessing water. It is a long process and the Centre is only deceiving the people of north Karnataka. If JD(S) gets 12-16 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, you will see how Modi and others will come running to our doorstep,” said Kumaraswamy.
Making a clear case for a second stint as prime minister for his father, Kumaraswamy said the Deve Gowda family had always toiled hard for the state and the country. “Deve Gowda was the first and only Kannada prime minister. He has made immense contribution in a short span of time. As a prime minister, he had sanctioned Uri power project, bailed out Uttar Pradesh sugarcane growers, ensured Jammu and Kashmir held elections, the list is endless. But the Central government today is different,” said Kumaraswamy.
In an election year, Kumaraswamy made many promises to woo the voters.
The JD(S), which is popular in Mandya, Ramanagara and Mysuru, is bargaining hard for more seats in the seat-sharing arrangement with its ally—the Congress. The JD(S) is looking at Bengaluru, with its 28 assembly seats, and north Karnataka to expand its presence.
Exhorting JD(S) workers in Bengaluru to fight hard for their political survival, Kumaraswamy added that he would make Karnataka the “number one state” if his party got to rule 'independently' for five years.
“In 2006, Revanna urged the then surface transport minister to clear land acquisition for the outer peripheral ring road project. Now, we have earmarked Rs 17,000 crore for the project, which was neglected all these years. Another Rs 24,000 crore is set aside for upgrading the Bengaluru city roads. The 103km of elevated corridor project will come up at a cost of Rs 27,000 crore. Now, tell me, are we neglecting Bengaluru?” asked Kumaraswamy.
To make amends for the slow-paced implementation of the farm loan waiver, Kumaraswamy promised a new policy.
“The policy will ensure unlimited procurement of agricultural produce from the farmer by the state government. We will not have to wait for the Centre's permission for procurement or funds. Farmer suicides are going on unabated and the reasons for it are many, and I will look into them. Despite the farm loan waiver, farmers are distressed. We will implement a total crop loan waiver in one shot, as I plan to allocate Rs 46,000 crore in the upcoming state budget, which is scheduled [to be presented] on February 8,” said Kumaraswamy. He also claimed that he had warned Modi during their last meeting that it would be difficult for Modi to retain power if he neglected the farmers.
Salvo at Congress
Meanwhile, the Congress's new avatar as an 'aggressive' ally, has disappointed the JD(S) leaders and cadres alike.
First, it was the “unilateral decision” of the Congress to wrest the Legislative Council chairman's post, followed by appointments to boards and corporations. Miffed with the development, Deve Gowda too noted that the Congress had a “big brother” attitude, and it was time for it to treat the regional parties with respect.
A week ago, a JD(S) spokesperson had hinted at a rift between the coalition partners, declaring that his party intended to go it alone in the Lok Sabha polls.
Former MLC Ramesh Babu had made it clear that his party would contest all 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state. “It will be a friendly match. We will not be giving up our seats. It is a decision following series of meetings chaired by Deve Gowda. We have already held meetings across eight districts and will hold similar meetings in the remaining districts. We hope to give a tough fight in 15 seats,” said Babu, indicating that the party was serious about contesting in Bengaluru North, Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Tumkur, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Bijapur, Raichur, Shimoga and Bidar.
The coalition partners, who announced a pre-poll alliance for the Parliamentary elections, spelling out a 2:1 seat-sharing agreement, are now bargaining hard for more seats than their quota, to protect and expand their political constituencies.
Interestingly, JD(S) national general secretary Danish Ali begged to differ. He reminded both parties of the agreement. “It is clear the allies will stick to the formula—JD(S) gets 10 seats and Congress 18.”
Kumaraswamy said he was confident the allies would respect each other's space. He also hailed his party MLAs, stating none of their names had cropped up in the 'Operation Kamala list', unlike the Congress MLAs.
“You have stood by me. I respect you for that. However, I urge my MLAs to make sacrifices and allow us to reward the party workers while making appointments to the boards and corporations,” said Kumaraswamy, who also said he regretted not appointing JD(S) supporters to the boards and corporations during the JD(S)-BJP coalition 12 years back.
“I will not repeat my mistake. I will appoint my party men. The BJP had filled up their men to all 30 posts and given cabinet rank to them, new cars, with the taxpayers' money. I have to save my party and I will do what it takes to do it,” said Kumaraswamy.
JD(S) pacifies its state chief
JD(S) state president and Hunsur MLA A.H. Vishwanath, who had announced his resignation from the post citing 'health issues', told JD(S) supporters that as the party was going through testing times, the JD(S) patriarch had persuaded him to stay back.
“I had gone to meet Deve Gowda as I wanted him to relieve me from the post. But he was keen to retain me as the party is going through a crucial phase and would benefit from my experience. I cannot say no to Deve Gowda as he gave me a political rebirth,” said Vishwanath, who was made the state chief within 16 months after he quit the Congress.
Vishwanath, a veteran leader from the Mysuru region, lost the Mysuru Parliamentary seat to BJP's Pratap Simha in 2014.Vishwanath cosied up to the JD(S) after he developed differences with then chief minister Siddaramaiah, a fellow Kuruba from the Mysuru region. Vishwanath won the Hunsur assembly seat on a JD(S) ticket in the May 2018 polls, while Siddaramaiah suffered a humiliating defeat owing to the 'Vokkaliga versus Kuruba' mobilisation in the region.
A former MP and former minister, Vishwanath was denied a cabinet berth in the JD(S)-Congress coalition led by Kumaraswamy. After his appointment to the party chief's post too, most party decisions were being taken by the Deve Gowda family, and Vishwanath had little say. Feeling sidelined, especially after being kept out of even the coordination committee headed by Siddaramaiah after JD(S) chose Kumaraswamy and JD(S) national general secretary Danish Ali to represent the party, Vishwanath seemed to be disillusioned. Now, with Vishwanath back in action, the JD(S) might be hoping to woo back the Kurubas ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
