BENGALURU: Upping the ante in the election fight is JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy with the announcement of his Mission 113.
Perpetually termed a minor player and a coalition partner at best, Kumaraswamy seems determined to be a David getting ready to take on the Goliaths Congress and BJP.
With tireless campaigning by both party supremo H D Deve Gowda and son Kumaraswamy, a well-planned social media offensive and carefully crafted retorts to BJP and Congress, it has been busy. Realising the fragility of their own existence as the party has not been in power for years now, JD(S) insists that it will go it alone, but the signals have been somewhat mixed.
Traditionally known as the party of the old Mysuru region, this time around it has been trying to make a big foray into North Karnataka region where drought has ravaged the districts and the farmers’ party has become more appealing to beleaguered farmers.
A major part of this calculation is the anti-incumbency factor of Congress, which JD(S) leaders strongly believe is aiding their efforts. “The promise of loan waiver has swung 2-3 per cent of votes in our favour. There is a strong anti-incumbency factor in North Karnataka and we intend to exploit this,” said a JD(S) leader.
As far as caste calculations go, JD(S) will also prefer to give tickets to Lingayat candidates depending upon how the other two parties select their candidates. The party says that 18 seats were lost in North Karnataka in the last Assembly elections by very small margins, thanks to Yeddyurappa’s Karnataka Janata Paksha.
Party leaders believe they have an upper hand in old Mysuru region and they can pip Congress. “BJP has not picked up in that region and our vote share has not decreased. The anti-incumbency feeling in that area is strong,” according to party spokesman Ramesh Babu. However, he is aware that with several months to go for elections, it is near impossible to assess where they will stand during elections.
Political analyst Harish Ramaswamy said the JD(S) is overestimating the anti-incumbency factor. However, with at least eight months to go and more machinations to take place, Ramaswamy believes JD(S) stands a chance yet again as kingmaker.