What Is At Stake For JD(S)? Can Prajwal Revanna Retain The Party's Single Sitting Seat Hassan (Photo on X Janata Dal Secular @JanataDal_S)
Karnataka’s political landscape has been dominated by three powers – Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Janata Dal (Secular). Among them, JD(S) is the third biggest with 19 legislators in the 224-member state assembly and one single MP in the 545-member Lok Sabha. Yet, the political influence of the JD(S) leaders has been spread across the nations and its leaders have served as chief ministers multiple times and even as the 11th Prime Minister of the country by Deve Gowda.
However, the party’s historic legacy have diminished over the years, and it is analysed that the 2024 general elections will be an existential fight for the party. Notably, the debilitation was further deepened with its single MP from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, Prajwal Revanna landed in one of the biggest sexual harassment scandals.
For the JD(U)’s luck, the video of the grandson of the former Prime Minister and Hassan sitting MP was leaked a day after the voters from the constituency cast their votes on May 26. The MP left the country on May 27 and has been absconding as the state government’s Special Investigation Team is probing the sexual harassment case.
Revanna is seeking his second term from the seat. The party has been allotted three seats after the seat-sharing discussions with the BJP. He had won the 2019 general election with around 1.5 lakh majority, and this time, the 33-year-old grandson of the former Prime Minister’s fate has been uncertain.
Other than Hassan, the party received former fortresses, Mandya and Kolar. The former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy is contesting from the high-profile Mandya seat. The constituency had been the major ground of the HD Deva Gowda family. However, in the 2019 elections, independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh emerged victorious with the support of the BJP. This time, the Congress has fielded close aide of DK Shiva Kumar, businessman Venkataramana Gowda known as “Star Chandru.” The JD(S) has fielded M Mallesh Babu from Kolar.
With all the political dynamics in the state, political analysts foresee a tilt towards the Congress party in the Mandya. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asserted that Congress’s Star Chandru will wrest back the seat in the ongoing general elections. However, the entry of Kumaraswamy is likely to add challenges to the Congress’ prospects. Though once a JD(S) bastion, the party has now jut one MLA in Mandya district, while the Congress galvanised more might with six MLAs from the district. However, the personal connections and charisma of the former Chief Minister would benefit the weakening JD(S)”s strength in the constituency to revive itself.
