“Party ticket will be given to all former MLAs...They need not worry about it,” he said after holding a peace meeting with N Chaluvarayaswamy, who along with five other former MLAs later announced their decision to remain in Deve Gowda-headed JD(S).
Chaluvarayaswamy had rebelled against the Gowda and his sons after they decided to withdraw support to the BJP-led Government and identified himself with a rebel group led by senior party leader M P Prakash. Altogether 16 former MLAs had supported Prakash. But even before Prakash could decide the future course of action, five of his supporters, including Chaluvarayaswamy, changed their minds and decided to remain in JD(S). According to the insiders, Kumaraswamy, by assuring the party tickets, is trying to lure other rebels, who are still with Prakash.
And he is hopeful that his efforts would yield results in coming days. “I am confident that others will also remain in the party...I am hopeful that Prakash will also change his mind,” he stated. Chaluvarayaswamy, on his part, said: “We have complete faith in Deve Gowda and the party. We had taken a neutral stand for some reasons. But we are very much in the party.”
Meanwhile, all leaders of the Prakash camp are likely to meet on December 12 to discuss the next steps they should take. “But a final decision will not be taken at the meeting. The political scene now is very fluid. Many changes are expected in the coming days. We will wait for the right time,” one of the rebel leaders said.
Some JD(S) leaders said “We are closely watching the developments in the Congress, especially Siddaramaiah. KPCC is likely to be revamped in the coming days and Siddaramaiah will take a decision to remain in the party or not,”.
Similarly, the Prakash camp is watching the JD(U)’s next move -- whether it will enter into a pre-poll alliance with the BJP or not.