JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Monday stated that mid-term polls would inevitably occur in the state and that his party, the JDS(S), would contest the upcoming elections alone.
"Mid-term polls are inevitable in Karnataka. In January or February, it may occur, so, let's contest independently without going for an alliance with anyone,” Deve Gowda told his party men in Bengaluru recently, while adding, “We will not dip our fingers in the same oil and will not commit that mistake again. Let’s face all the elections independently."
This was a volte face from his statement on September 13, where he had told the media that he would make a decision on allying with the Congress for the upcoming bye-elections after dialogue with AICC President Sonia Gandhi. Deve Gowda’s statement that he is looking to continue the alliance, came as a surprise to many in political circles. Not only had the JD(S) faced many a humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, but it had also seen three of its MLAs resigning, including state President AH Viswanath.
The hint that the JD(S) may once again go with the Congress almost started a fresh bout of rebellion with leaders like GT Deve Gowda speaking up against it. MLA from Chamundeshwari assembly constituency, GT Devegowda – a loyalist, who has stood firmly by the JD(S) patriarch’s side, accused HD Kumaraswamy of trying to sabotage his political career. GT Devegowda had also hinted that he may quit the JD(S) and join the BJP.
For decades, the Congress and JD(S) have been rivals in southern Karnataka. People in several villages in the Old Mysuru region, especially Mandya and Hassan identify themselves as Congress or JD(S) supporters. Karnataka has witnessed several political feuds in this region, with cadre from the two parties hurting each other physically due to the political rivalry.
The first blow to the Congress and JD(S) cadre came when the party’s seniors announced that they were coming together to fight the Lok Sabha elections held earlier in May. It was a bitter pill to swallow and both Congress and JD(S) cadre had worked against the alliance’s candidates during the Lok Sabha elections. JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda too had lost from the Tumakuru segment because of the rivalry between the cadre.
The defeat was seen as a humiliation by the JD(S) cadre as Deve Gowda is one of the tallest leaders in the state. Several JD(S) seniors blamed the Congress for working against Deve Gowda and deliberately sabotaging his chances. Deve Gowda himself, had blamed former Congress CM, Siddaramaiah, for the collapse of the coalition government.
This blame game, however, is not one sided. Congress cadre and its leaders in the state too, blamed the high command for allying with the JD(S) and for the elctoral losses it suffered. Karnataka Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah blamed the JD(S) for its failure in the Lok Sabha elections. Several Congress seniors had threatened to quit the party if the alliance continued.
Caught in the middle of growing dissatisfaction among JD(S) leaders, Deve Gowda had to concede that his party would not ally with the Congress. Self-preservation or not, Deve Gowda’s latest announcement is being seen as a last attempt to keep his flock together and to prevent further defections.