Karnataka JD(S) ‘blank’ on merger plan

Bengaluru: At a time when top Janata Dal (S) leaders are making efforts at the national level for merger of breakaway parties of the erstwhile Janata Parivar in order to counter the NDA government in New Delhi, a majority of their legislators in Karnataka are not even aware of these moves.

Legislators, who spoke to Deccan Chronicle, said the issue of merger was not discussed in the core committee. They too have learnt about former JD (S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda’s merger talks with leaders and colleagues of the erstwhile Janata Parivar only through media reports.

“Such important things should have been discussed in the core committee meeting, and the leaders ought to have sought the opinion of legislators. Unfortunately, it is not happening in our party despite repeated pleas to our leaders,” lamented a member of the core committee.

This member, who was a minister in JD (S)-BJP coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy, said “as per the guidelines, the core committee has to meet at least once in a month to take stock of  political developments  in the state and nation.

But the committee has not met even once after it was formed. Mr Gowda may have taken this initiative with good intentions but it is good if the opinion of MLAs and MLCs is taken before discussing it with other leaders.”

He was of the opinion that the immediate priority of the party should be to strengthen its support base in Karnataka as party workers were disillusioned after the Assembly polls in 2013.

The need of the hour was to galvanize workers before gram panchayat polls scheduled later this year. Besides, issues like differences of opinion among leaders and legislators need to be addressed, he added.