Backward Classes leader and the former Minister A. Krishnappa has been elected as the new president of the State unit of the Janata Dal (Secular). A meeting chaired by JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and attended by over 40 top leaders here on Wednesday elected Mr. Krishnappa after prolonged deliberation.
Mr. Krishnappa, who was with the Congress for nearly three decades, quit the party and joined the JD(S) in the run-up to the Assembly elections after he was denied ticket. Mr. Krishnappa started his political career in 1985 when he was elected as MLA and represented Varthur Assembly Constituency. He represented the constituency for four terms and served as Minister for Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sugar and Social Welfare.
In May this year, Mr. Krishnappa had faced a raid by the Income Tax Department on his home in K.R. Puram, and recovered close to Rs. 2.5 crore. He is the chairperson of South East Asian Education Trust.
Mr. Krishnappa fills the post vacated by the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who quit the position owning moral responsibility for the poor performance of the party in the recently concluded bypolls. After the election, the Mr. Deve Gowda told presspersons that by electing Mr. Krishnappa, it has been proved that the JD(S) is not a party of father and son as alleged by political detractors. “This is the testimony of the party’s concern for backward classes,” he added. A senior leader on condition of anonymity said some leaders were not happy with the choice. “But, they could not oppose Mr. Gowda,” he said.
