Janata Dal (Secular) or JD (S) management in Karnataka, which historically relied on the Vokkaliga vote financial institution within the state, is now taking a look at alternate vote banks, individuals near developments mentioned on Wednesday.
Within the newest try to draw new vote banks, former Karnataka chief minister and JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy supplied an apology to the Veerashaiva-Lingayats on Monday.
Addressing the Veerashaiva-Lingayat neighborhood in Mysuru, he appealed to them to ‘overlook previous incidents’ and even stopped wanting apologising to the neighborhood for not handing over the chief minister put up to BS Yediyurappa in 2007.
“I request you, with folded fingers, to help our candidate, Mallesh. The instances have modified now. In the event you conform to help Mallesh, I’ll guarantee to empower you in all potential methods. Please overlook previous incidents. I’ve all the time helped whoever involves me with out asking his caste,” Kumaraswamy mentioned.
Kumaraswamy and Yediyurappa fashioned an alliance in 2006, which led to the autumn of the Dharam Singh-led coalition authorities. In keeping with the phrases, Kumaraswamy had agreed to surrender the CM put up after 20 months to Yediyurappa, however when the time got here, the JD(S) chief refused to do it, which led to the collapse of the federal government. Since then, it’s mentioned that the Veerashaiva-Lingayat neighborhood has harboured a grouse in opposition to the JD(S) and Kumaraswamy.
“BJP is powered by the Veerashaiva neighborhood. However the way in which BJP is treating him is gloomy. BS Yediyurappa may say he’s working for the social gathering, however when he was the CM, he was made to attend for 3 days to get an appointment with the PM. The BJP excessive command didn’t construct the BJP in Karnataka. It was Yediyurappa who constructed the social gathering. Even Bommai is dealing with the identical situation. He’s only a CM for the namesake, and all orders come from Delhi. He couldn’t even induct 5 ministers,” Kumaraswamy mentioned.
The JD(S), typically recognized because the kingmaker, historically trusted the Vokkaliga vote financial institution within the previous Mysuru area for its vote share, the aforementioned individuals mentioned. Nonetheless, with DK Shivakumar rising as Vokkaliga chief and CM face from the neighborhood, the JD(S) is attempting to broaden its voter base. Earlier than reaching out to the Veerashaiva voters, the social gathering had tried to increase its help to the Muslim neighborhood.
The social gathering has appointed a Muslim state president. Days after CM Ibrahim was made the social gathering chief, in November 2022, Kumaraswamy had mentioned that Kumaraswamy mentioned that the social gathering was open to having a Muslim chief minister if the social gathering got here to energy independently.
Chatting with the media at Kyaluru village in Kolar district on November 22 final yr, Kumaraswamy mentioned the social gathering was additionally open to the concept of getting ladies and Dalit deputy chief ministers, and such discussions had been solely potential in JD(S).
A senior BJP chief, who spoke on situation of anonymity, mentioned that JD(S) fears shedding the Vokkaliga vote financial institution to the BJP. “Now we have been gaining traction due to our outreach over the previous couple of years. By-election victory in KR Pet in Mandya district in 2019 was a sign of the social gathering breaching of the JD(S)’s Vokkaliga dominance,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, analysts aware of the area identified that the BJP is but to make an impression on the area.
“JD(S) continues to be sturdy within the area. Sure, they had been the weakest in 2019, however it’s unlikely that there can be an enormous shift in direction of the Congress or BJP. As I see it, the JD(S) interesting to different communities is a part of their makes an attempt to extend their voter base quite than a response to a concern of shedding floor. Within the Mysore Karnataka area, JD(S) continues to be sturdy. BJP gained’t be capable to shift votes by putting in a statue of Kempegowda. Within the case of Congress, DK Shivakumar continues to be not a mass chief for the Vokkaliga neighborhood to maneuver numerous votes from the JD(S) to Congress,” mentioned A Narayana, a political analyst.