Will JD(S) arise once again in Dakshina Kannada?

Team Udayavani, May 20, 2018, 12:55 PM IST

Mangaluru: As JD(S)-Congress coalition is in the process of forming the state government, other than U.T.Khader of Congress, there is no other representative from either Congress or JD(S) from Dakshina Kannada district.

After the 1998 elections, JD(S) strength in the district weaned and even during this election they have no candidate who achieved victory here.

In the present situation, U.T.Khader is the only MLA who has been elected successfully in the election and is capable of representing Mangaluru legislative assembly constituency. But, if there should be a JD(S) representative from here, they need a victorious candidate from the upcoming legislative council elections.

In this regard, JD(S) state general secretary B.M. Farooq’s name is coming up as he is also very close with JD(S) supremo H.D.Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy. Discussions are making rounds in the JD(S)-Congress circles on giving him the MLC position and then making him the minister.

Ivan D’Souza of Congress, who is close with Siddaramiah and of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dr G Parameshwar, is already and MLC and there is a possibility that the minister berth might be given to him.

JD(S) in the district

If JD(S) history in the district is observed from 1983 to 1988 there were elected representatives who became ministers. In 1983, M.Lokayya Shetty (Janata Party) was elected from Surathkal constituency. K.Amarnath Shetty won from Moodbidri constituency in 1983, 87 and 1994 and also became a minister. Vasanth Bangera was elected from Belthangady constituency in 1994. B.A.Mohiuddin who was an MLC became the education minister in 1995-99.

From the last two decades, JD(S) strength has gone down in the district. The candidates who contested in the elections this time lost terribly. It only remains to be seen if JD(S) will regain it’s strength in the district during its term as the coalition government.