JDS stages wannabe king-maker show in Deve Gowda’s turf

HASSAN: While Congress tries to defy Karnataka’s electoral history of voting out the incumbent and BJP banks on the same to wrest the state, the Janata Dal (Secular) is a wannabe kingmaker hoping for a hung verdict on May 15. JDS’ desire is clearly visible in Hassan, the home ground of party patron, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.

Hassan has been a JDS stronghold and Gowda has represented it five times in the Lok Sabha. His party holds five of the seven assembly segments, leaving the remaining two to Congress. Gowda’s short stints as PM and chief minister of Karnataka have given him and his family a big political profile with the help of the Vokkaliga dominated caste politics here.

“The JDS will sweep all seven seats here this time because people here know JDS is going to call the shots in Karanataka for the next five years. Having seen the good work Deve Gowda has done for the district as PM and CM, and developmental work carried out by the Kumaraswamy regime, people clearly want another JDS government to carry forward development in the district,” said JDS district functionary Rajanna.


However, there is wide-spread talk of Congress giving a tougher fight this time to JDS even in Holenarasipura, where Manje Gowda is locked in a grim contest with Gowda’s son HD Revanna. JDS is also fighting to dispel Congress’ campaign that it has a secret understanding with BJP.

“For JDS and BJP, the common enemy is Congress. Both joined hands to form a government in Karnataka in the past and is plotting to do that same this time too. But people have seen through the game-plan and will defeat it,” said Congress’ Hassan candidate HK Mahesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conspicuously showering praises on Gowda during his Hassan rally and Rahul Gandhi calling JDS the ‘BJP B team’ have spiced up the campaign. Adding to those are whispers that BJP has fielded ‘weak candidates’ to help JDS vis-à-vis Congress in some seats.

“The Congress campaign about a BJP-JDS deal is a bogus charge aimed at consolidation of minority votes. The state BJP, unlike in 2013 (when Yeddyurappa’s break away KJP took away over 10% votes of BJP votes), is now united and resurgent. It will rout Congress and JDS in the polls,” said BJP candidate Preetham Gowda.

Voters here complain about acute shortage of drinking water, lack of infrastructure, crisis in agriculture sector and growing unemployment even though Hassan has become a kind of education hub. Hassan also showcases a chronically unfinished airport project, pushed during Gowda’s prime ministership. It has been in a state of paralysis after Gowda quit as PM.

Like the airport, Gowda’s party, out of power for a decade in Karnataka, is waiting for an opportunity to be provided by a hung-verdict, which would help it decide whether BJP or Congress should govern Karnataka in the next five years.