Empty seats dotted the Krishnaraja Boys Junior College ground in Karnataka's Mysuru where top leaders of the Congress-JD(S) coalition were about to address a rally. "Rahul Gandhi is arriving, Rahul Gandhi is arriving. He's not too far away, he will come here to the people," a song specifically designed to showcase the poll promises of the Congress party was blaring through the speakers. This song, meant to be a metaphor, turned literal for the impatient crowd waiting at the venue on Saturday.
It took some time for the chairs to get occupied. The event, supposed to start at about 5.30 pm, was delayed and began at 6.45 pm. While Gandhi was set to arrive at 5 pm, he finally reached at around 7 pm after he had addressed two more rallies in Karnataka, earlier in the day.
This was a crucial meeting for the Congress-JD(S) alliance in the state. The leaders of both the Congress and JD(S) had gathered together to display unity amid rumours that the party workers of both political parties were not willing to work together. The rally was not just to pacify Congress workers in Mandya, it was also to pacify JD(S) workers in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar.
Sitting on stage beside his arch-rival and political nemesis Siddaramaiah, JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda was all smiles.
“This is the ultimate test for us. Yes, Siddaramaiah and I were separated for a while. We had been close before. But now we have come together once more. This is because our country is facing a huge threat from the BJP. The extreme polarisation that is going on now is changing the dialogue from what matters,” Deve Gowda said, addressing the rally.
“It may be true that Siddaramaiah and GT Devegowda have differences. But they are willing to let go and come together for the sake of this country. I urge the party workers to do the same,” he added.
The JD(S) supremo added that the goal was to defeat Narendra Modi. “If by any misfortune, Modi becomes the Prime Minister again, he will destroy the Constitution created by Dr BR Ambedkar. I am begging you, please ensure that such a thing does not happen,” he said.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi reiterated the message, saying, “This election is about justice versus injustice. Truth versus falsehoods. We stand for the truth,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Gandhi then called upon workers of the JD(S) and the Congress to work together and use all their strength to back the three candidates – JD(S)’s Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is contesting from Mandya; CH Vijayashankar, who is contesting from Mysuru-Kodagu; and sitting MP Dhruva Narayana who is contesting from Chamarajanagar.
“Congress and JD(S) workers are here. And on the stage, Congress leaders, as well as JD(S) leaders, are present. Together, we are standing against Modi, the BJP and the RSS. And all of our leaders and workers stand united and will defeat the BJP in Karnataka. Congress workers have to use all their strength to help this alliance win. Janata Dal workers have to rally together and help the alliance win. I want to tell the Congress workers, give all your support to the JD(S). Our aim is to defeat BJP and Narendra Modi,” said Rahul.
In addition to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, former Karnataka Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar, senior leader and Kalaburagi MP Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Primary Education Minister GT Devegowda and Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh were present at the event.
The location of the rally was also crucial
“KR Nagar is like a trident. Although it lies in Mysuru district, it belongs to the Mandya Lok Sabha segment and also shares a border with Chamarajanagar. This is an auspicious place,” Deve Gowda said, addressing the rally.
KR Nagar is part of the Mandya constituency from which Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil K is making his electoral debut. Mandya, being part of the Vokkaliga heartland was supposed to be a cakewalk for the otherwise novice third-generation politician. However, it has turned out to be a tough contest with independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh, widow of the late Rebel Star Ambareesh, getting the support from grassroots workers of the Congress party and the support from the BJP leadership across the state.
All the three seats are part of the old Mysuru region, the only part on the state where the JD(S) has a strong grassroots presence. Here, the main fight over the years has been between the Congress and the JD(S), with BJP have little to zero significance. While an alliance have been forged from the top, on the ground, there is no understanding between the JD(S) and Congress workers, who were arch rivals till May 2018.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not been able to cut much ice in his attempt to change the minds of the Congress workers in Mandya, who have even risked suspension from the party. This rally, with Congress President himself asking the cadre of the two parties to work together, is being seen as the last-ditch attempt by the Congress leadership to maintain the coalition dharma in Mandya.