JD(S) is out to shed its anti-Lingayat image

Janata Dal (Secular) is all set to remove its anti-Lingayat image by welcoming some of the prominent Veerashaiva leaders of North Karnataka into the party.

On Tuesday, JD(S) working president and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy welcomed former minister and Congress leader AB Patil, former minister SS Patil,
son Shiva Kumar Patil, and several Lingayat leaders form North Karnataka.

Kumaraswamy said some top leaders of the Veerashaiva community will join the party next week in Gadag. “Talks are on with these leaders. Shortly, we will announce the names. Those who left Janatha Parivar are coming back to JD(S),” he said.

“JD(S) is growing strong in North Karnataka. Next week, SR Patil and SS Patil will join the party. Now the party is not facing shortage of candidates in North Karnataka. It is capable of giving a tuff fight for BJP and Congress,” he said.

Kumaraswamy criticised chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s statement that Deve Gowda and his sons were using black magic (vamachara) against BJP candidates. He said during the last ten months, BJP’s achievement was zero. The party’s hope of capturing 23 seats was only a vain dream, he said.

He called for an open debate on the performance by his government and ten months of rule by the BJP government. He alleged that BJP leader Ananthkumar got scared when SM Krishna expressed his wish to contest form Bangalore South.

In selecting the candidate for Bangalore South, there was a secret agreement between the Congress and BJP, he said. JD(S) would announce the second list of candidates to contest for 10 parliamentary constituencies on Wednesday. It would field only Janata Dal workers, he said.

On Wednesday, Kumaraswamy will file nomination for Bangalore North from Ramanagara. Zamir Ahamad Khan and KE Radhakrishna will also file nominations form Bangalore Central and Bangalore South constituencies respectively, he said.