After an extended dispute between the driver partners and Ola-Uber, the disgruntled drivers had decided to float their own app and call it HDK Cabs, as former CM HD Kumaraswamy had promised to fund the app’s launch.
However, the JD(S) President is not too happy about the drivers deciding to name the new cab aggregation service after him.
Just a few days ahead of the new company’s launch, Kumaraswamy told TOI, “I am not very keen on my name being used for the taxi companies. I genuinely want to help the drivers as they are from poor families who live in rural areas but I don’t want it to be seen with a political angle and distort my image.”
Kumaraswamy had extended support to the taxi drivers' agitation in Bengaluru in February, when two Ola drivers tried to kill themselves outside the company office during the protest.
The JD(S) President was looked upon as a saviour by the drivers’ union after the state government refused to intervene in the stalemate between drivers and the cab-aggregating companies over multiple issues.
The new taxi aggregating company, HDK Cabs, is supposed to be launched after Ugadi, and was meant to run on a cooperative model managed by the drivers themselves.
Ola TaxiForSure and Uber Drivers’ Association President, Tanveer Pasha had said that at least 10,000 drivers would be a part of the new company.
According to the TOI report, naming the company after Kumaraswamy would cause damage to his image in the long run as in the past, Ola and Uber drivers had drawn flak for misbehaving and allegedly sexually harassing women.
JD(S) workers believe that if such instances are reported against drivers in the new company, then Kumaraswamy’s name will be tarnished, which is a huge political risk.