H D Kumaraswamy to drop anchor in North Karnataka

Hubli: Janata Dal(S) leader and former Chief Minister, H D Kumaraswamy may have raised his party workers' hopes by his decision to shift focus to North Karnataka and rent a house in Hubli  to develop a rapport with the people, but many here believe he has his work cut out for him.

Dogged with internal problems and the challenge of  beating the  Lingayat factor, he  could have a hard time reviving the party in the region and winning over the people enough to persuade them to vote for the JDS, they say .

Mr Kumaraswamy did gain popularity once in the region due to his pro-poor programmes and village stays, but over the years his support has waned after he “betrayed” the BJP when he was Chief Minister, according to political analysts. His prolonged absence from the region also saw many from the JDS moving to other parties in search of better political prospects, they note.

Although the JD(S) managed to win four assembly seats in North Karnataka riding on  the BJP-KJP factor , Mr Kumaraswamy will have an uphill battle trying to revive the JD(S) in the region, in their view
“The JD(S) is an alternative political force in Karnataka, but Kumaraswamy does not seem to have very strong ideologies. He needs to speak of them if he does and  focus more on consolidating the  party here as differences among its leaders have been proving  destructive for it,” says prof. Harish Ramaswamy, political science professor at Karnataka University.

But JD(S) leader, Basavaraj Horatti believes there is hope out there.

“Our  party workers here are unhappy as they are not given monetary assistance to strengthen the JD(S) in the region. But many leaders, who have deserted the party, are keen to return to it if Mr Kumaraswamy spends at least  four or five days in a month visiting the North Karnataka region,” he says.