Tumakuru: In another blow to the coalition partners these Lok Sabha polls, a Kuruba meet organised in Tumakuru town as a show of strength for JD(S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda, who is contesting from Tumakuru this Lok Sabha poll, proved to be a flop show with a poor turnout from the community at the Library Grounds, the venue, on Saturday.
According to those present at the grounds, only half the chairs were filled and those who attended, left immediately after Mr Deve Gowda had addressed the gathering and departed.
The public meeting was to showcase an alleged change of heart among the Kurubas, who have been hostile to the JD(S) since former Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, who belongs to the community,left the party to join the Congress, over differences with Mr Deve Gowda.
But now that the JD(S) and Congress are partners in the ruling coalition in the state and have an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls as well, Mr Siddaramaiah met the Kuruba leaders of Tumakuru and appealed to them to work for the success of Mr Deve Gowda, who is a Vokkaliga, the community which accounts for about 3.25 lakh voters in the constituency. He is up against Mr G.S. Basavaraju of the BJP, who is from the Lingayat community, which accounts for about three lakh votes here.
The Kurubas are, however, the deciding factor in some of the assembly constituencies of old Mysuru region and their support could make all the difference to Mr Deve Gowda’s chances in Tumakuru as well.
Some of the leaders of the Tumakuru Kurubara Sangha told the Deccan Chronicle before the public meeting that the community was now behind Mr Deve Gowda because Mr Siddaramaiah had asked it to work for his success this poll. But going by the turnout at the venue, the Kurubas' support for him appears reluctant at best.
