Mangaluru: Faced with an exodus of party leaders to BJP and Congress, Janatha Dal (Secular) supremo H.D Deve Gowda (82), despite his ill-health, is planning to tour all the 226 assembly constituencies of Karnataka, to revive JD(S) from the grass root level.
The former Chief Minister informed his plans for the party during a press meet in the city on Wednesday November 5.
In the first two or three months, Deve Gowda said he will work on ‘structuring the party completely’, by re-appointing leaders at every level, with equal importance to women. One’s it’s done; he said he will fight for people’s issues and work as a ‘constructive opposition party’ in the state.
“We will fight for issues, which people accept that in turn will give me more strength to work for them”, he said.
“The state has umpteen numbers of issues. While, BJP and Congress are national parties, and a regional party is important in the state to work for people’s issues. JD(S) will fight for local cause”, he asserted.
During his tour around Karnataka, Deve Gowda said he will meet people who worked with him since 1972. If required, I will go to their houses and hold talks on reviving the party in the state. “It is a hard task, which is not possible by one Deve Gowda or Kumarswamy. I will meet party workers in all taluks and districts, he said.
“Our fight will be on the developmental agenda, people’s issues and beyond caste politics”, he added.
Responding to a query on law and order in the state, Deve Gowda expressed displeasure. He said, “The law and order in the state is not under control. In addition to the rise in rape cases, murder in the daylight has increased drastically. It only suggests the picture of the state.
It’s the responsibility of the state government to control law and order. But, it has failed to do so”, he added.
Speaking on black money, he stressed that the Central Government must control the transaction of black money within the country. “The issue of black money in the foreign banks was raised by L.K Advani in 2004. In ten years, most of those accounts have already transferred to safe place. According to the report, Rs 14,000 crore has already been withdrawn from those banks”, he pointed out.
JD(S) state president in two weeks
On filling the vacant post of JD(S) State president, Deve Gowda said the appointment will be done in two weeks. He said the priority will be given to women.
When asked if Anitha Kumarswamy would take over as the state president, he said the party will take the ‘views of all stakeholders’ before the appointment.
