Poll-battered JD(S) to get new state president in April

Bengaluru: The JD(S) on Sunday decided to conduct elections in April to elect its state president and strengthen the organisation in the run-up to the Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections expected to be held around May.

The regional party has been shaken by electoral reverses, first in the Assembly polls and later in the high stakes Channapatna bypoll. Though it put up a commendable performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by allying with the BJP, the Channapatna loss seems to be haunting leaders and rank and file, who now want the party to put up a strong show in the upcoming ZP, TP elections.

“We have decided to elect the state unit president through an election in April. I have been firm with our leaders on the need to focus on strengthening the party. Priority will be given to those who work sincerely for the party’s development,” said JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy.

JD(S) state youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who suffered his third straight electoral defeat, is said to be a strong contender for the state presidency.

On the issue of allying with its NDA partner BJP for the ZP, TP elections, leaders are said to have diverging opinions.

As per sources, leaders are opposed to an alliance in the Old-Mysuru region, where the regional party has traditionally been stronger than the BJP and has been the Congress’ principal rival.

Leaders from Kalyana Karnataka are also said to be preferring a solo contest as the JD(S) has some strong pockets there. However, leaders elsewhere are said to be in favour of continuing the alliance with the BJP.

Sources told DH that the party is focusing on membership drives and will take up taluk panchayat elections in February-March. This is then expected to be followed by district-level and state-level elections.

Former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, MLAs, MLCs, former ministers and other leaders attended the meeting.