Hubballi: Many candidates who want to contest the assembly election are now slowly drifting towards Janata Dal (S) in Dharwad district.
JD(S) has no strong cadre or base in North Karnataka, but many want to contest the elections on its ticket now.
After legislative council chairman Basavaraj Horatti, former MLA NH Konaraddi, and others left the JD(S), the party lost its cadre. It has has struggled a lot to rebuild its cadre base. But during the local body elections in the Hubballi-Dharwad, it could not even get candidates to contest in 82 wards.
However, the situation is a bit different as many leaders are waiting for an opportunity to contest the assembly election on a JD(S) ticket.
JD(S) Dharwad district president Gururaj Hunasimarad said they have received 34 applications from party workers for the seven assembly segments in the district. “Many people from other political parties are in touch to join JD(S). Except for Kundgol and Kalghatagi, where we have two applicants each, all other segments have more than five ticket aspirants,” he said.
“Some senior leaders from different parties are waiting for clarity from their party leaders on a chance to contest the elections. If they do not get a chance, they are interested to contest on our party ticket. But we have suggested party seniors to prioritise party activists who have worked for the party,” he added.
He said that there is no dearth of party workers in the district and that they are working to bring them all together and make the party unit more active.
According to sources, after looking at the overwhelming response to the Pancharatna Yatra launched by former chief minister HD Kumarswamy, senior leaders of various parties including former MLAs are trying to join Janata Dal Secular.
Recently senior TV journalist Mustafa Kunnibhavi joined JD(S) in Navalgund in the presence of Kumarswamy along with hundreds of followers. Many more are expected to join the party. However, JD(S) is still finding it difficult to stop its workers from joining other parties. On Thursday, grassroots workers of the party joined the Congress party in the presence of former chief minister Siddaramaiah.
JD(S) has no strong cadre or base in North Karnataka, but many want to contest the elections on its ticket now.
After legislative council chairman Basavaraj Horatti, former MLA NH Konaraddi, and others left the JD(S), the party lost its cadre. It has has struggled a lot to rebuild its cadre base. But during the local body elections in the Hubballi-Dharwad, it could not even get candidates to contest in 82 wards.
However, the situation is a bit different as many leaders are waiting for an opportunity to contest the assembly election on a JD(S) ticket.
JD(S) Dharwad district president Gururaj Hunasimarad said they have received 34 applications from party workers for the seven assembly segments in the district. “Many people from other political parties are in touch to join JD(S). Except for Kundgol and Kalghatagi, where we have two applicants each, all other segments have more than five ticket aspirants,” he said.
“Some senior leaders from different parties are waiting for clarity from their party leaders on a chance to contest the elections. If they do not get a chance, they are interested to contest on our party ticket. But we have suggested party seniors to prioritise party activists who have worked for the party,” he added.
He said that there is no dearth of party workers in the district and that they are working to bring them all together and make the party unit more active.
According to sources, after looking at the overwhelming response to the Pancharatna Yatra launched by former chief minister HD Kumarswamy, senior leaders of various parties including former MLAs are trying to join Janata Dal Secular.
Recently senior TV journalist Mustafa Kunnibhavi joined JD(S) in Navalgund in the presence of Kumarswamy along with hundreds of followers. Many more are expected to join the party. However, JD(S) is still finding it difficult to stop its workers from joining other parties. On Thursday, grassroots workers of the party joined the Congress party in the presence of former chief minister Siddaramaiah.