Even as the “introspection” meeting, convened by Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda earlier this month failed to clear the confusion plaguing the party, his son and former State president H.D. Kumaraswamy is now making another attempt to assuage the feelings of discontented legislators.
He has convened a meeting of party legislators on September 3 at a private hotel in a move that is being described as an attempt to end speculation about the future of the party in the elections to the local bodies, scheduled next year.
In his two-page letter to party legislators, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he was “disturbed” by the recent developments in the party. “I am hurt by reports on the sagging image of the party and lack of coordination among the leaders, in the media. I am pained as media reports point an accusing finger at me,” he said.
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Internal bickering has of late been a major concern for the 15-year-old political party. A series of political developments, including television expose of the party allegedly “selling” Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council seats; its decision to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party to occupy the post of the vice-chairman in the Upper House; a few legislators meeting the Chief Minister in the run-up to the recent byelections; have all dented the image of the party.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy were being accused of taking unilateral decisions by the senior legislators and partymen. Mr. Kumaraswamy had also taken legislators to Sri Lanka to assuage their feelings. Mr. Gowda went to the extent of asking discontented legislators to leave the party, if they didn’t want to build the party at the grassroots.
In his letter, Mr. Kumaraswamy said: “Wednesday’s meeting is a genuine attempt to find solutions to issues haunting the party and putting an end to every kind of speculation.”
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Mr. Kumaraswamy declared that he was still prepared to correct his mistake “if any” at the meeting and leaders could air their opinions and feelings freely to clear the confusion in the party’s interest.
“I will abide by any decision taken at the meeting and I am ready to accept even an alternative leadership, as no individual is above the party,” he added.
Mr. Kumaraswamy described himself as a junior leader who had accepted all the responsibilities imposed on him. “I lived up to their expectation by boosting the image of the party in my 20-month tenure as Chief Minister and as State president,” he said.
“The JD(S) had a track record of standing for social justice and launching pro-poor programmes during its tenure in power. It is difficult for me to digest criticism against the party,” he explained.