Enthused by the success in the Legislative Council elections from the Assembly constituency, where it managed to ensure the victory of two candidates—its own Mudir Agha and Independent candidate Bhairati Suresh— the JD(S) is now eyeing the 2013 Assembly elections.
What could come to the assistance of the JD(S) and help it draw leaders from other parties is the fact that it has got its caste combine right by backing a Kuruba—Mr Suresh—which has sent the right message to the not so insignificant backward castes in the state.
“The party needed to work out the right caste combine so that it did not have to rely only on the Vokkaligas. The Gowdas—JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda— know quite well that in the last elections, the lack of Kuruba backing proved to be the party’s undoing in several constituencies. By sending minority and Kuruba candidates to the Council, the party has been able to get both communities on its side,” said the sources.
Janata Dal(S) poll managers know quite well that the dominant Lingayat community is still backing the BJP despite the shoddy treatment meted out by the party to former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa. Without wasting time by putting up a Lingayat candidate, the party looked to the second best option — the minorities and Kurubas—and pulled off a remarkable victory, the source added.
Meanwhile, party chief Kumaraswamy is in touch with leaders of the BJP and Congress. Sources said he is making personal attempts to woo BJP leaders like Nagaraj Shetty and Shakunthala Shetty in the coastal districts, along with Mudigere MLA H.K. Kumaraswamy from the Malnad region. The five independent legislators, who joined BJP during Operation Kamal, are also in touch with him, sources said.
Leaders looking for better political options are however worried if the JD(S) will be able to get the backing of communities other than the Vokkaligas despite the Council poll success. Though Mr Kumaraswamy has been drawing crowds during his visits to north Karnataka, the question is whether this will convert into votes. JD(S) leaders are also working to woo leaders of the erstwhile Janata pariwar who joined the BJP during Operation Kamala. Party general secretary Basannagouda Patil Yatnal has been entrusted the task of getting Lingayat leaders of north Karnataka who are willing to defect, to join the party.