Party workers puzzled over JD(S) ‘love triangle’

Bengaluru: Where does the JD(S) stand in state politics? Going by its stance in recent political happenings in the state, Mr Deve Gowda’s party is playing a cunning game siding with the BJP or Congress whichever suits its interests best. In recent months, it has been growing closer to the Congress with rumours doing the rounds that JD(S) supremo Mr H.D. Deve Gowda and Chief Minister Mr Siddaramaiah held a secret meeting in Delhi.

Interestingly, relations between former CM Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah improved dramatically during the recent Assembly session making people and JD(S) supporters wonder who their friend and foe was!

The bonhomie comes just weeks after the JD(S) backed the BJP and ensured that legislative council chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy retained his seat despite the wafer thin majority the saffron party enjoyed in the council. In return, the JD(S) Puttanna was made council deputy chairman.

Than came the assembly session and the JD(S)-Congress ‘pact’ was very much in evidence with the government not hesitating to order a probe into issues raised by Mr Kumaraswamy, while cutting the opposition BJP to size.

What’s more surprising is the JD(S) decision not to field any candidates in the by-elections. Earlier, the JD(S) never lost an opportunity to contest any by-election whether the constituency was its stronghold or not. This time, though the party has some base in Shikaripur, it has decided to stay neutral.