Krishnappa is JD-S State president

In a bid to shed its Vokkaliga tag, the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) on Wednesday unanimously elected A Krishnappa, a seasoned politician from the backward classes, its State president. He will succeed H D Kumaraswamy, who was the president for six years.

Krishnappa (68) is a Golla (Yadava). He is said to enjoy the support of both JD-S supremo H D Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy. Deve Gowda had hand picked Krishnappa to contest the Assembly elections from Hiriyur in Chitradurga district, at a time when he was sulking after being denied a Congress ticket to contest from K R Puram.

Kumaraswamy had resigned after the JD-S lost two Lok Sabha seats to the Congress in the recently concluded by-elections.

Following a detailed meeting of top JD-S leaders in Bangalore, Deve Gowda said he has formally accepted Kumaraswamy’s resignation and announced Krishnappa the successor. 

“Despite stiff opposition from party members, we have accepted Kumaraswamy’s resignation. The JD-S needed to shed the perception of outsiders that it is a father-son party. It was also one of the prime reasons why Kumaraswamy resigned,” said  Deve Gowda.

He said Krishnappa’s appointment was unanimous. He was chosen for his experience.
“There are close to 75 executive member posts which will be filled. Appointment to the top posts of various internal committees will be expedited in the next two to three days,” Deve Gowda said.