Rebel trouble in JD(S): Deve Gowda enters scene

The name of JD(S) candidate for Kodagu-Mysuru Lok Sabha constituency is yet to be finalised and rebel activities in JD(S) in Kodagu may affect the performance of the party in the parliamentary elections.

Taking note of the internal fight, the party supremo has himself taken up the task of setting the things right by pacifying the disappointed leaders.

H D Deve Gowda who holds the supreme command of the party is said to have assured rebel leader B A Jeevijaya and his followers to set things right.

Rebel politics and infighting is not new to JD(S) in the district. The infighting erupted during the Assembly elections in 2018 as well. A group of leaders led by former minister M C Nanaiah and others quit JD(S) to join the Congress.

Apart from these, another faction within the party had allegedly worked against JD(S) candidates, which resulted in the defeat of B A Jeevijaya from Madikeri and Sanket Poovaiah from Virajpet constituencies.

Even though Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had announced various programmes for Kodagu in the budget, keeping in mind the Lok Sabha elections, the appointment of K M B Ganesh for the post of district JD(S) president has not been accepted by several leaders.

Former minister B A Jeevijaya and his followers have openly expressed their views against the appointment of K M B Ganesh as the party’s district head.

Sources in the party said that a faction led by Jeevijaya has decided to resign from the primary membership of JD(S). Such developments may not be favourable for JD(S) in Kodagu, especially when elections are around the corner.

Surprisingly, H D Deve Gowda himself is said to have called Jeevijaya over the phone and has assured of ‘setting everything right’ by Wednesday noon.

“There is no need to take any hasty decision. Leaders should stay calm,” the JD(S) supremo is said to have advised Jeevijaya.

Sources said Jeevijaya’s son Sanjay Jeevijaya was an aspirant for the post of JD(S) Kodagu district president. Jeevijaya who batted for his son’s aspiration is said to have spoken to Deve Gowda and had even received a positive response. However, they were disappointed when K M B Ganesh was appointed as the JD(S) district unit president.

Party sources also said that H D Kumaraswamy and leader H Vishwanath, after a discussion, finalised the decision on the appointment of Ganesh, during their stay at a private resort in Kushalnagar on February 28 when the chief minister paid a visit to the district.

District JD(S) former president Sanket Poovaiah who stepped down from the post after several leaders spoke against his appointment in public, had met Deve Gowda recently and requested him to accept the resignation. The resignation was accepted on Monday.

K M B Ganesh is a follower of Adaguru H Vishwanath. Sanketh is said to have been assured of a plum post in the JD(S) state committee, according to sources in the JD(S).