Bengaluru, April 23 (). The JD(S) is confident of becoming the kingmaker in Karnataka after the family feud in the Deve Gowda family ends. Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s son H.D. Kumaraswamy, who single-handedly faced the onslaught of the national parties, the Congress and the BJP, is brimming with confidence.
The party, which is hoping to win maximum seats in South Karnataka, is confident of winning double digit seats in North Karnataka as well.
Everything seems to have been timed right for the JD(S). Deve Gowda’s daughter-in-law Bhavani Revanna demanded ticket from Hassan seat. Bhavani Revanna’s sons MP Prajwal Revanna, MLC Suraj Revanna also supported their mother’s candidature.
Earlier Suraj Revanna had attacked his uncle Kumaraswamy. Kumaraswamy was not ready to give ticket to Bhavani Revanna. Eventually, Bhavani Revanna backed out and the ticket was given to Swaroop Prakash from Haasan.
Bhavani Revanna has now come out in open to support Swaroop Prakash and while addressing a public rally emphasized the unity of the party and her resolve to make Prakash win. This has sent the right message to the JD(S) workers at the right time.
JD(S) legal cell chief and former advocates’ association president A.P. Ranganath told that till last year the JD(S)’s aim was to become the kingmaker. He said, in 2023, we are the king now. JD(S) is all set to win the election against the national parties Congress and BJP.
We are seeing the trend of 1993 in the state. HD Deve Gowda has an emotive issue. Vokkaligas know that Congress state president DK Shivakumar will not be made the CM as long as Siddaramaiah is in the party.
More importantly, Ranganath said, Kumaraswamy became a voice for minorities, especially Muslims, when the state was in chaos over controversies such as hijab, halal crisis and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). There will be a lot of benefit from this in the elections.
He told that Kumaraswamy then spoke in one voice. In the Congress, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar spoke separately for fear of losing the majority vote. We were firm and determined to protect the interests of Muslims, he said.
Ranganath said the people of Raichur, Bidar, Kalaburagi and Bidar districts of Karnataka are always with the JD-S because of the irrigation work done by Deve Gowda.
The party always used to win 1 or 2 seats from the region, he said. However, this time the candidates are coming thinking that they will definitely win. JD-S is going to win 36 to 40 seats in North Karnataka districts. The huge turnout for filing nominations in Bhatkal constituency, considered a BJP stronghold, has raised hopes in the Coastal Karnataka region as well.
In Bengaluru, the party is all set to win five seats. The Dasarhalli seat is held by the JD-S and will retain it. Yelahanka, Yeshwanthpur, Gandhinagar and Basavanagudi constituencies are going to be captured by JD-S. He said the party would also win several constituencies in Bangalore Rural.
Former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy had challenged the national parties that they would have to come to their doorsteps after the elections. As polling draws closer, he is getting more confident.
After the exit of former CM Jagadish Shettar from BJP, Kumaraswamy had said that his party does not have strong leaders who are full of confidence. Kumaraswamy is counting on his 20 months as chief minister and 13 months in office.
PK/SKP
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