BENGALURU: JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday admitted that many senior leaders of the Janata Parivar had contacted the party and were exploring rejoining the fold. Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said that those who still retained faith in the Janata parivar ideology had shown interest and were in talks. “We welcome all who wanted to return to party fold and make it a formidable regional party in the country,” he said.
The party has already seen the return of PGR Scindia and is expected to play a major role in the coming days. The newly anointed Congress MLC C M Ibrahim also had met Kumaraswamy recently, sparking speculation that he is keen on returning as well. Howeve, Kumarswamy refused to commit himself to anything saying, “It is a fact that, he met me and enquired about my health. I don’t want to comment anything about his return to party. However, we will welcome anybody coming to the party believing our ideology”, he said.
Sources in the party said that Ibrahim’s return to JD(S) was confirmed although he would not do so immediately. Ibrahim is presently in Kerala and is expected to have another round of talks after he returns. “Since his nomination as an MLC has happened recently, it is not likely that he will join us now, but he will do so closer to the elections,” a source said.
JD(S) sources further said that it is not just Ibrahim, but also B L Shankar and three MLAs from Belagavi who are also likely to hop to the JD(S) just before elections. Sources claim that a total of six MLAs from both BJP and Congress are in talks with them.
JD(S) has also been strengthened by the support of Srinivas Prasad of BJP in Mysuru who is joining forces with JD(S) to defeat Congress and specifically Siddaramaiah. Prasad had recently met Deve Gowda and A H Vishwanath to discuss more on collaborating during the coming elections. JD(S), which is kicking off its campaign from Chamundeshwari constituency from where Siddaramaiah is also expected to contest, is expected to benefit a lot from Srinivas Prasad who nurses a personal grudge against the Chief Minister over the treatment meted out to him when he was in Congress.
No list right now
Kumaraswamy said they would be holding a national executive meet in Hubballi on November 14. He also said the core committee would decide the candidate for around 45 constituencies where there are eight to ten aspirants per constituency. However, JD(S) will release its first list only after Congress and BJP release their list, he said.