After months of speculation and persuasion from current Karnataka JDS president, H Vishwanath, the party is all set to hand over the baton to Sakleshpura MLA HK Kumaraswamy as party president. To appeal to youths, Madhu Bangarappa appointed as JDS working president
Bengaluru: Karnataka's regional party JD(S) that is sharing power with the Congress in the state, is all set to make big changes.
First, the party appointed Sakleshpura MLA HK Kumaraswamy as the state party president and Madhu Bangarappa as working president. Soon, there will be changes at the grassroot level in south Karnataka which was a stronghold of the JD(S).
Party sources said Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, despite his loss in Mandya Lok Sabha poll to actress Sumalatha, may take responsibility as party's youth wing president.
The decision was made following H Vishwanath's request and then alleged threat to resign from MLA post if the party does not relieve him from the state president's post.
It was reported that Vishwanath is contemplating of joining the BJP. However, he and the party leaders dismissed this as a rumour.
JD(S) supremo former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has communicated to party leaders about the change in guard and on Thursday (July 4) he will make an official announcement about new president and working president.
The leaders have already come to Bengaluru’s JP Bhavan, the JD(S) head office where Deve Gowda will make the appointments official.
"Change is inevitable and every political party has to go through it. Even though we did not want H Vishwanath to go, he is adamant on stepping down. Since we wanted to reenergise the whole party mechanism, we have decided to make a six-time MLA as party chief. Along with HK Kumaraswamy, there will be three working presidents. The party has already made Madhu Bangarappa as one of them and will be soon selecting two more. This is to decentralise and work for party’s growth across the state and in south Karnataka in particular,” said Tanveer Ahmed, national spokesperson, JD(S).
On new responsibility to Nikhil as JD(S) youth wing president, Ahmed said it is going to be a good decision as Nikhil is working hard.
“Despite his loss Nikhil has not given up on meeting people and listening to their problems. He continues to visit Mandya and stay for long hours and moves around the parliamentary segment to send across a message among Mandya voters that he will always serve them. Giving chance to such rising politicians will be good for politics,” opined Ahmed.
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