While leaders of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are busy holding ‘yatras’ ahead of the Assembly elections, the Janata Dal (Secular) seems to be keen on ‘samvada’ (dialogue) with specific groups alongside a traditional poll campaign.
The party’s State president, H.D. Kumaraswamy, has started holding samvada programmes with five groups — senior citizens, Dalit organisations, representatives of the IT sector, intellectuals and writers, and businessmen. “We are happy with the response and plan to hold more such meetings,” he told The Hindu .
He, however, was quick to add that this was no alternative to the campaign trail. He said the ‘Kumara Parva Yatra’ in his customised vehicle ‘Karnataka Vikasa Vahini’ too was on in a staggered way. “Samavada programmes will be an addition to the ongoing Kumara Parva Yatra,” he said. He added that the interactions were helpful in putting together a “realistic manifesto” instead of “promising the moon like other national parties”.
He also said that if the JD(S) comes to power, he would be keen on earmarking half a day in a month to meet representatives of each sector and take stock of the status of the promises made to them.
Now, party leaders are showing interest in holding such interaction programmes outside Bengaluru, in cities such as Mysuru, Hubballi, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Mangaluru, and Belagavi. “Samvada programmes will be held with taxi drivers, auto drivers, leaders of Kannada organisations, women, especially those working in the garment sector, students, members of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries, advocates, and industrial workers,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said.
