<p>Bengaluru: The JD(S) is all set for a revamp after the Sankranti festival with party state president HD Kumaraswamy likely passing the baton to his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy. </p><p>According to sources in the regional party, senior leaders are keen on handing over the responsibility to Nikhil by electing him as the party's state chief.</p><p>Sources said the plan of senior leaders is to have more young leaders in the team to attract youngsters. "There are young legislators and leaders in the party. Their capabilities and network at the grassroots level will be utilised well to strengthen the party at the base," said a source.</p>.H D Deve Gowda hints at Nikhil Kumaraswamy taking over as JD(S) Karnataka president.<p>The party is organising a meeting in the second week of this month to discuss various issues including electing the state president and strengthening the party. The meeting will be chaired by Kumaraswamy. </p><p>"It is necessary for the party to retain and regain its strength in the Old Mysore region and also in a few parts of north Karnataka. And it is also important for Nikhil to prove his organising skills, though he has been unable to see success in electoral politics. He has finished touring seven districts," said a senior leader of the party.</p>.<p>The idea is to give prominence to young legislators like Harish Gowda, Sharanagouda Kandakur, Swaroop Prakash and Samrudhi Manjunath, the leader said, adding that during the Channapatna bypoll, it was young leaders who were with Nikhil at booth level. </p><p>"To consolidate the Lingayat community's support in North Karnataka, there are discussions about appointing Sharanagouda Kandakur as the president of Youth Janata Dal, which is now led by Nikhil," one of the sources said.</p><p>Also, Harish, who represents the Hunsur Assembly constituency, is on good terms with Nikhil though Harish's father and senior legislator, GT Deve Gowda, is maintaining a distance from the party.</p>.Karnataka bypolls: Nikhil Kumaraswamy's loss fuels 'desertion' buzz by JD(S) lawmakers.<p>To save itself from the accusation of favouring family politics, the senior leadership is planning to create three working president posts and accommodate those belonging to SC/ST communities and minorities. "The aim is to prove our potential in the upcoming zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections," said the senior leader. </p><p>Meanwhile, the party is also planning to conduct institutional elections to appoint leaders at district and taluk levels. </p><p>The regional party's absence has been evident in the state after its debacle in the Channapatna bypoll. Party leaders were not present during the series of protests organised by its alliance partner BJP against IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge and the arrest of MLC CT Ravi.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The JD(S) is all set for a revamp after the Sankranti festival with party state president HD Kumaraswamy likely passing the baton to his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy. </p><p>According to sources in the regional party, senior leaders are keen on handing over the responsibility to Nikhil by electing him as the party's state chief.</p><p>Sources said the plan of senior leaders is to have more young leaders in the team to attract youngsters. "There are young legislators and leaders in the party. Their capabilities and network at the grassroots level will be utilised well to strengthen the party at the base," said a source.</p>.H D Deve Gowda hints at Nikhil Kumaraswamy taking over as JD(S) Karnataka president.<p>The party is organising a meeting in the second week of this month to discuss various issues including electing the state president and strengthening the party. The meeting will be chaired by Kumaraswamy. </p><p>"It is necessary for the party to retain and regain its strength in the Old Mysore region and also in a few parts of north Karnataka. And it is also important for Nikhil to prove his organising skills, though he has been unable to see success in electoral politics. He has finished touring seven districts," said a senior leader of the party.</p>.<p>The idea is to give prominence to young legislators like Harish Gowda, Sharanagouda Kandakur, Swaroop Prakash and Samrudhi Manjunath, the leader said, adding that during the Channapatna bypoll, it was young leaders who were with Nikhil at booth level. </p><p>"To consolidate the Lingayat community's support in North Karnataka, there are discussions about appointing Sharanagouda Kandakur as the president of Youth Janata Dal, which is now led by Nikhil," one of the sources said.</p><p>Also, Harish, who represents the Hunsur Assembly constituency, is on good terms with Nikhil though Harish's father and senior legislator, GT Deve Gowda, is maintaining a distance from the party.</p>.Karnataka bypolls: Nikhil Kumaraswamy's loss fuels 'desertion' buzz by JD(S) lawmakers.<p>To save itself from the accusation of favouring family politics, the senior leadership is planning to create three working president posts and accommodate those belonging to SC/ST communities and minorities. "The aim is to prove our potential in the upcoming zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections," said the senior leader. </p><p>Meanwhile, the party is also planning to conduct institutional elections to appoint leaders at district and taluk levels. </p><p>The regional party's absence has been evident in the state after its debacle in the Channapatna bypoll. Party leaders were not present during the series of protests organised by its alliance partner BJP against IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge and the arrest of MLC CT Ravi.</p>
