After Cong, BJP, poll fever grips JD(S) too

Bengluru: In what could well be his last poll before he hangs up his shoes, JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda on Sunday said his party too was gearing up for early Assembly elections in the state like the Congress and BJP, which had already started preparations. The polls are due in April/ May 2018 but reports have been doing the rounds that they could be advanced.

Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Mr Gowda said even AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal had hinted at early polls which was enough indication that the ruling party was readying itself for this. “I have been watching the developments. Along with Mr Venugopal, there are another four or five AICC office-bearers from other states who have come down here. They have been touring the districts and have been given charge of different divisions. It seems that like the BJP, they too are focusing on the election process. Meanwhile, Mr Amit Shah (BJP president) is renting a house in Bengaluru and will be camping here till the elections are over. Our party too will not lag behind in preparations,” Mr Gowda said.

Congress leaders are planning to visit the houses of widows to address their problems, while those of the BJP are visiting the houses of Dalits. Since H.D. Kumaraswamy (JD(S) state president) has stayed in villages and in the houses of the AIDS infected, the JD(S) will not restart these visits. Instead, the party will activate all its organisational wings, Mr Gowda said.

On July 21, the party was planning a farmers' rally in Vijayapura which has now been postponed and will be held at the same place at a later date. The JD(S) has also decided to organise a women's rally in Bengaluru on July 20.

The former PM took a dig at the BJP and Congress saying both parties talk about women’s empowerment but have actually done nothing.