BENGALURU: As in the past, Janata Dal (Secular) leaders’ posturing towards minority community, particularly in urban areas, could help the Bharatiya Janata Party consolidate not only its core votes in Hebbal Assembly constituency but garner Vokkaliga votes as well.
In the latest instance, party patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda’s outbursts against party MLA B.Z. Zameer Ahamed Khan could prompt a large section of Vokkaliga voters to oppose the Congress in order to punish Muslim leaders — Mr C. K. Jaffer Sharief and Mr Khan who let down the former prime minister in the run-up to by-polls scheduled for February 13.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party said that there are a few leaders in the state, who possess the rare quality of transferring their votes to anyone’s favour and that voter segments promptly returns to their grip again.
“Mr Gowda is one such politician, who knows how to transfer his votes to which party. He being considered Vokkaliga icon in the state, he enjoys unparalleled following in his community. Therefore, he has played his cards well this time by way of canvassing in favour of his party candidate in Hebbal, but has actually passed message to his community that he has been isolated by Muslims, whom he trusted for a long, but they deceived him when he needed them the most,” the leader added.
The leader said that Mr Gowda has a tendency not to disturb Vokkaliga leaders’ prospects unless that Vokkaliga leader could be pose a threat to his or his sons’ political ambitions.
“Of the 28 constituencies in Bengaluru city, 12 MLAs belong to the dominant Vokkaliga community, while two belong to OBC, while four each are from minority and Brahmin communities,” the leader said.
The leader said that Mr Gowda had always extended a helping hand to all Vokkaligas when compared with those of other communities.
“Similarly, in Hebbal too, he is sending a message to his community voters to ensure a victory of the BJP candidate than of his own party candidate,” the leader contended.
