Even before the two national parties — the BJP and the Congress —have set in motion their election campaign for the coming Assembly polls in Karnataka, Janata Dal (Secular) is set to kick off its poll campaign from Chamundeshwari, the Assembly constituency from where Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to contest.
JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy said he would begin the election campaign after offering prayers and seeking blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi Hills in Mysuru on November 3.
The campaign will be called ‘Kumara Parva’ — a title coined by the social media wing of the party — and will focus on the contributions of the former Chief Minister to the State during his 20-month tenure.
Campaign trail
Former Minister G.T. Deve Gowda, the sitting JD(S) MLA for Chamundeshwari, who is expected to accompany Mr. Kumaraswamy on the campaign trail in the constituency, has already begun touring various parts of the constituency to mobilise people for the launch of the campaign. Mr. Kumaraswamy will also be accompanied by former Minister A.H. Vishwanath, who recently quit the Congress and joined the JD(S).
When asked about the defeat of JD(S) against Mr. Siddaramaiah during the 2006 bypolls to the Assembly from Chamundeshwari, Mr. Kumaraswamy said: “Times have changed since 2006. People are disappointed with Mr. Siddaramaiah. That is why we are launching our campaign from Chamundeshwari.”
An estimated 50,000 people are expected to assemble for the launch of ‘Kumara Parva’ in the constituency. The poll campaign would be taken forward in phases. “On November 8, I am participating in a huge rally in Shivamogga to mark the end of the padayatra launched by JD(S) youth wing president Madhu Bangarappa opposing eviction of bagair hukum cultivators,” said Mr. Kumaraswamy.
Village visit
Mr. Kumaraswamy’s programme to connect with the party’s rural base — Grama Vastavya — will also be launched by November 15. As part of Vastavya, he will be staying in different villages to understand people’s problems.
“I plan to stay in at least 60 villages of Bombay-Karnataka and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions. The intention is to remind the people of the party’s contribution to these areas,” said Mr. Kumaraswamy. District heads of the party have been directed to identify villages and make necessary arrangements.
Health concerns
Meanwhile, Mr. Kumaraswamy’s family is worried about his health as he recently underwent a heart surgery and is recuperating. Family sources said they are consulting doctors on his poll campaign.
Mr. Kumaraswamy is expected to use his custom-made vehicle designed for campaigning. It has all the facilities needed for him to recuperate. The 30-ft.-long vehicle has been painted green, the colour of the party flag.
