Wooing Ramesh Jarkiholi, resolving rebellion within party: How JD(S) is switching to poll mode

Jarkiholi is among the group of 17 MLAs who resigned from the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2019, leading to its collapse and paving the way for the return to power of the BJP.

Jarkiholi, who later joined the BJP, was made a minister but was eventually dropped from the Cabinet after allegations of a job-for-sex scandal. In February this year, the SIT probing the case gave Jarkiholi a clean chit, but he wasn’t taken back into the Cabinet.

Ever since, Ramesh Jarkiholi has been sulking in the BJP.

“With elections approaching, party leaders, including former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, have held a first round of talks with Ramesh Jarkiholi and one of his siblings to announce their affiliation to the JD(S),” claimed a reliable source within the party, who wished to be unnamed.

Related: Eye on CM’s chair, Kumaraswamy rolls out Pancharatna yatra

Importance of North Karnataka

“The reason behind approaching the Jarkiholi brothers is to promote them as the face of the party in North Karnataka. In the meeting, Ramesh Jarkiholi tabled certain conditions before the party leaders. The party is likely to bargain in the second round of talks, which is likely to be held soon. Kumaraswamy is firm on having the Jarkiholi brothers in the JD(S),” the source told South First.

The JD(S) is wooing Ramesh Jarkiholi to strengthen its presence in north Karnataka. (Supplied)

When approached for a comment, Bidar South MLA Bandeppa M Kashempur, however, did not want to disclose details of the discussion.

“I cannot disclose the internal matters of the party. HD Kumaraswamy is the only person who will respond on the matter. The party is making a valiant effort to strengthen the party base in the North Karnataka region,” he said.

Sources in Belagavi suggest that Jarkiholi has demanded blank B-forms — forms on which the name of the party’s official candidate is submitted to the Election Commission — for all 18 Assembly segments of Belagavi, and bankroll for the polls from the JDS as a pre-condition to joining.

It may be noted that in the 13 districts of North Karnataka, JD(S) has MLAs in only four districts — Vijayapura, Bidar, Raichur, and Yadgiri. The party has no elected members in major districts such as Dharwad, Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Kalaburagi.

No MLAs from central, coastal regions

Of the 30 JD(S) MLAs in the current Assembly, only five are from the North Karnataka region, and remaining are from south Karnataka, mainly the old Mysuru region. The party has no elected members from central and coastal Karnataka either.

“The party has a stronghold in the old Mysuru region but does not enjoy the same grip over other parts, especially in the North Karnataka region in the state. The party has considered this seriously and is finding ways to come out with flying colours in next year’s polls in all the regions,” JD(S) spokesperson NR Ravichandregowda told South First.

JD(S) sees BS Yediyurappa’s relegated position in the BJP as an opportunity to make inroads into North Karnataka, where the Lingayat community is seen as electorally influential.

“When Kumaraswamy was the chief minister, the people of the North Karnataka region got the highest benefits such as loan waiver. The party is confident of making big gains across the state, and mainly in North Karnataka in the next year Assembly polls. There is no dissent within the party,” reiterated MLA Bandeppa.

Challenge of internal strife

While the JD(S) has never fielded candidates in all 224 constituencies of Karnataka, the party is keen on giving a fight in 123 seats.

With his Pancharatna Yatre, Kumaraswamy is travelling across districts, meeting people and strengthening the cadre while his father and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, and his brother HD Revanna are attempting to address internal squabbling in the party, which is only getting shriller over candidate selection.

“The first candidates list, which is yet to be released, is not the final list. The list keeps changing every day and simultaneously survey work is underway. Based on the survey report, the tickets will be issued. I will start campaigning for the Assembly polls from next month,” former Deve Gowda, told reporters in Mysuru.

Dissent in JD(S) is no secret. “In order to avoid tensions during the polls — the party is already on the job to resolve all the disputes within the party,” spokesperson Ravichandregowda told South First.

The party has expelled two MLAs — Tumakuru’s Gubbi MLA SR Srinivas and Kolar MLA K Srinivasgowda — for cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha election in June, 2022.

Hassan’s Arasikere MLA KM Shivalingegowda openly expressed displeasure at the party recently. The MLAs in Tumakuru and other districts have also expressed ire at the high command for various reasons.

The brawl between KR Nagar MLA Sa Ra Mahesh and Chamundeshwari MLA GT Devegowda was addressed during JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda’s visit to the latter’s house in Mysuru recently.

“Holenarsipura MLA HD Revanna spoke with Shivalingegowda and sorted out the issues on Wednesday (30 November). He will stay with the party. JD(S) head HD Deve Gowda has taken the responsibility of solving the issues between the leaders in the party,” added Ravichandregowda.

The JD(S)’s chances

Dr Sandeep Shastri, political scientist and national coordinator of Lokniti, said: “While the JD(S) is third in Karnataka, the party has to carry out such programmes like ‘Pancharatna Yatra’ to keep themselves relevant.”

“The history of JD(S) clearly depicts that they have always managed to win around 40 seats in the Assembly. The party was limited to the old Mysuru region and its vote base shrunk to the Vokkaliga community. By giving a lot of party tickets to the family, the followers moved away from the party,” pointed out Shastri.

With regard to Kumaraswamy making emotional speeches during the party rallies, Shastri said: “This kind of emotional appeals did not work for Kumaraswamy in the 2018 Assembly polls. The emotional appeal should be backed by substantive action on the ground to garner votes.”