Discontentment brewing in JD(S) too over delay in appointments

At a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party is allegedly continuing its efforts to destabilise the coalition government by cashing in on the dissent in Congress, discontentment is brewing in the Janata Dal (Secular) too because of the delay in filling two vacant posts in the Cabinet and in naming chairpersons to Boards and Corporations. However, unlike in the Congress camp, this has remained under the surface and not threatened the government.

According to sources in the party, leaders and legislators were earlier assured of filling their quota in the Cabinet and making appointments after Sankranti, but the BJP’s constant efforts to destabilise the coalition government had forced the party to put the plan on hold. Now, the Chief Minister is also busy preparing for the budget.

“Nobody knows the intention and strategies of the senior party leaders. They are now convincing the cadre by promising to fill posts after the budget session,” said a senior leader on condition of anonymity. Some believe that the JDS’s strategy is to keep the posts vacant in case of an exigency, if rebel Congress leaders need to be accommodated in an effort to save the government from falling apart. Once the Lok Sabha elections are declared, it will not be possible to fill the posts, said a leader.

Some of the leaders are also upset with the decision of the party to nominate former bureaucrat Thippeswamy, who is close to party supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna to the Upper House over “party loyalists”. Some were already upset with the choice of H.M. Ramesh Gowda to head the youth wing of the party.

However, president of the State unit A.H. Vishwanath discounted the discontentment factor and said that reasons for postponement were “genuine” and the leaders understand it.

He cited the party allowing JD(S) legislators to work freely in their constituencies, without indulging in “resort politics”, as a sign of the leaders’ and cadre’s confidence in top leaders.

“Though BJP tried to pull one or two JD(S) legislators, they did not fall prey. Their loyalty to the party is unquestionable. However, party leaders are serious about filling the vacancies and there is no need for party legislators, leaders and workers to be anxious,” he told The Hindu .