The political temperatures has begun to heat up in Karnataka state and the same was evident on one Sunday morning (January 28th). The former Chief Minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy (HDK) first visited Ramdurg and then flew to Kittur (both in Belagavi district, North Karnataka) the same day. The first rally at Ramdurg was “Kumara Parva” held on the outskirts of the city. He was welcomed by an elephant which garlanded him and he walked to the stage ahead. Senior leaders from the party took turns, and one after the other spoke about the different problems the state was facing, and they all sounded convincing and connected well with the masses.
Basavaraj Horatti: senior leader and MLC added that the BJP has done bad things and want the problems to persist so that they can reap and gain political mileage out of the problems; they have put mud in the mouths of the farmers and political parties blaming one another and none of them taking any responsibility. He added that if the PM makes up his mind he can solve the Mahadayi problem in 30 minutes.
The JD (S) is the only party that will work for solving the problems of the people. 4 CMs from the party have been at the forefront in solving the problems of the people and they have been: late R K Hegde; former Prime Minister H D Devegowda; late JH Patel and HD Kumaraswamy. It is the character of the Janata party that does most of the good work and is instrumental in solving the problems of the people. The party has been doing lots of good work in Ramdurg taluk
Alkod Hanumanthappa: Continuing his tirade further after the first speaker, added that the government is anti-people and both the central and the state governments have failed the people of Karnataka and the people should note that for the first time that such bad things are happening across the length and breadth of the country. HDK is a strong leader and he alone can work for the welfare of farmers, weavers and fishermen, and the JD(S) was capable of finding a solution to the Kalasa-Banduri problems if Kumarasway became the Chief Minister. He asked the people present in the rally to convince other voters to vote for JD (S) and give the party a chance to change their lives forever. It is the character of the party to do good work, and if the JD(S) not there then the farmers will not get their due respect. The central government promised 2 crore jobs and till this date less than 10 lakh jobs created; and asked the voters if they have received the 15 Lakh rupees promised to them into their bank accounts?
The other leaders present on the dais: Dada Saab Kazi; Ismail Saab Kalabude, former MLC; N H Konareddy, MLA, Navalgund; Shankar Madalagi; Javed M; Moed Altaf, and K R Ramesh.
HD Kumaraswamy, former Chief Minister of Karnataka: It was then the turn of (HDK) to speak at both the places (Ramdurg & Kittur) after the local leaders; he sounded the alarm bells and briefed the people as to how their problems were being kept aside. The ruling Congress party in the state and the BJP leadership in the centre were always critical of each other and there was no meaningful work happening anywhere.
HDK’s promise to the voters is to waive of loans of farmers and weavers within 24 hours after coming to power. According to him, both the BJP and the Congress party have failed the farmers and the state has registered highest suicide rates in the last 10 years ( BJP & Congress party’s tenure); and also added that there were very few deaths in the brief period of 20 months of the JD(S) in 2006-07.
Regional parties are kings in their kingdom and they work according to the aspirations of the people of the state. The JD(S) believes that only a regional party can understand and solve the problems of the people. Karnataka also witnessed high growth rates during the tenure of the party and the same is yet to be achieved even after 10 years of majority rule of the BJP and Congress parties respectively. He also asked the voters to give him and his party a chance to serve them and that he was capable of delivering results and giving a sound administration. HDK stressed that political stability was the cornerstone of good administration and governance and asked them to elect his party with a full majority.
Kumaranna also emphasised his party was at the forefront to give due importance to North Karnataka, and they held the first session outside Bengaluru in year 2006. Because of the JD (S) efforts, Belagavi, got the new Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and sessions are held annually. If the JD(S) was voted back to power, he promised that he would regularly conduct sessions there and put the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha to good use and connect with the people of north Karnataka and improve the region.
The new slogan Karnataka Ke Kumaranna (meaning HD Kumaraswamy for Karnataka) is a catchy phrase to win more seats. But it needs to be seen if the JD (S) will get a simple majority and form the government all by itself. The JD(S) now has around 40+ MLAs in their kitty, so they will have to increase their numbers and win another 70+ seats in an assembly with a combined strength of 224 legislators?
Political stability is a must for any government to rule with a free-hand and if the parties in the poll fray do not get the required numbers, then they are open to all types of adjustments and alliances in the name of safe-guarding democracy.
Only the polls ahead will reveal what is in the minds of the wise voters of the state and in whom will they put their trust and faith and help them win with a thumping majority in the elections ahead?
