JDS plans roadshow to counter PM's mandya spectacle last week

JDS is planning a massive roadshow on March 26 to demonstrate its clout in the old Mysuru region, two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2-km roadshow in Mandya. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, 89, is expected to lead the roadshow.

The party has planned a 90-km roadshow from Ramanagara to Mysuru in the Vokkaliga dominated region. The second largest community considers Gowda as its tallest political leader. The decision by the regional party, which led the coalition regime with Congress in Karnataka in 2018-19, follows the ruling BJP's heightened efforts to penetrate the region and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president DK Shivakumar's campaign to stem JDS influence.

"We are planning to mobilise about one million workers and show to BJP and Congress where we stand with voters," former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy told ET. "This (Ramanagara, Mandya and Mysuru belt) is JDS fortress, and BJP and Congress are dreaming of breaking into it. The two parties will see the real pulse of the people."


On Gowda's participation, the JDS leader said the family has asked for doctor's opinion and will go by that. The regional party has taken serious note of BJP's campaign after PM Modi got a rousing welcome in Mandya, where he was showered with flowers while he held a roadshow. The PM addressed a public meeting, too. His meeting came three months after home minister Amit Shah addressed a rally in the district as BJP seeks to multiply its vote share in the region. Mandya's actor-turned-MP Sumalatha (independent) pledged her support to Modi days before his visit.

On Tuesday, Shivakumar confirmed that there were plans to field his younger brother DK Suresh against JDS youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy from Ramanagara, held currently by his mother Anita Kumaraswamy. Suresh is the lone Congress Lok Sabha member from Karnataka.