BENGALURU: Projecting itself as the only regional party that can prove an effective alternative to national parties Congress and BJP, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S) has drawn up ‘Mission 170’ plan to come to power on its own strength.
While BJP is trying to whip up a wave with its ‘Parivartana Yatra’ and ‘Mission 150’ to win at least 150 seats in the forthcoming assembly election, JD(S) has preferred to be modest considering its limitation in terms of party base and resources.JD(S) has identified 170 of the 224 Assembly constituencies in the state to focus as the party sees no hope of winning in the remaining 54 seats.
According to party sources, state President H D Kumaraswamy has categorised the seats A, B and C, of which 80 have been listed as ‘A’ category (where the party’s possibility of winning is seen as very high), 90 seats have been identified as those where the party can hope to win with greater effort and availability of good candidates, while the remaining 54 seats under ‘C’ category are the ones where the par ty sees no hope of winning. Most of the ‘A’ category seats are in the south and central parts of the state.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting of party leaders and ticket aspirants, Kumaraswamy said, “We have divided the constituencies into A, B and C categories. We have listed 70 to 80 seats as must-win and there are another 20 to 30 seats where we will face close fights. We are determined to win 113 seats to form the government on our own strength.”
Gowda and Kumaraswamy are drawing up plans for extensive tours and repeat rallies in the 80 ‘A’ category seats and the second rung leaders and respective district leaders would be involved in a big way in category ‘B’ seats.