Mysore/Mysuru: Even as the ruling BJP and the main Opposition Congress are engaged in a no-holds barred battle over corruption charges and misrule, the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) today launched ‘Janata Jaladhare’, the party’s own drinking water campaign, ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls.
The Statewide ‘Janata Jaladhare’ was formally launched by JD(S) Supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda at Kabini Dam in H.D. Kote taluk this morning and also at KRS in Mandya District, marking Hanuma Jayanti, thus setting in motion the party’s poll campaign.
Speaking to presspersons after launching the campaign at Beechanahalli where the Kabini Dam is located, Deve Gowda, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said that both the National parties — Congress and BJP — had failed in tapping/harnessing water resources of the State.
Noting that Cauvery, Kabini, Krishna and such other major rivers are Inter-State rivers, he said that he had made fervent appeals to the Union Government not to render injustice to Karnataka in river-water sharing disputes. But none of the National parties came to his support, he maintained adding that only a regional party can make honest efforts to resolve water disputes.
Explaining the objectives of Janata Jaladhare, he said that the programme is aimed at highlighting the injustice meted out to Karnataka by the Centre in implementing various irrigation projects and also to create awareness among the general public about water issues bothering the State.
Citing the example of neighbouring Tamil Nadu, where regional parties stand solidly united when it came to water disputes, he regretted that Karnataka presents an altogether different picture, where parties blame each other and enter into squabbles.
Referring to the resignation of Minister K.S. Eshwarappa over corruption charges, Deve Gowda wondered who is honest in current day politics. Stating that the BJP and the Congress have been trading charges against each other, he wanted to know whether the Congress, which is now in the Opposition, was free of taint when in power. Regretting that corruption has pervaded all spheres of life, he observed that political standards are deteriorating by the day.
Replying to a question on the possible pre-poll tie-up with the BJP, he said that these are mere speculations being floated by some, who are jealous of the JD(S) programmes. Contending that none from the BJP had joined hands with the JD(S) when it came to protecting the State’s interests, the former PM dismissed rumours of a possible electoral understanding with the BJP.
T. Narasipur MLA M.Ashwin Kumar, MLC C.N. Manjegowda, former MLA Chikkanna, former MLC Sharavana, District JD(S) President Narasimhaswamy and others were present.
Later, Deve Gowda left for KRS in Srirangapatna taluk, where also he launched the campaign.
As part of the State-wide campaign, JD(S) leaders, MLAs, ex-Ministers and ex-Legislators will take part in rallies to be held in several districts. Also, the rank and file of the party has been engaged to ensure the success of this programme, where the public will be sensitised on water-related issues.
A total of 15 modified vehicles, coined as ‘Ganga Ratha Yatre’, some of which were launched atop Chamundi Hill in Mysuru by former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy on Apr.12, will travel to several river water sources in the State and also cover more than 180 Assembly segments. Water will be collected from all the river water sources in a vessel (Kalasha). The campaign is expected to end at Bengaluru before May 8, when all the water collected will be poured into a ‘Brahma Kalasha’ and offered Ganga Puja everyday at the JD(S) headquarters in Bengaluru. After the completion of all programmes as part of Janata Jaladhare, the JD(S) plans to hold a massive rally in the State capital as a show of its strength, the date of which is yet to be finalised.
Interesting that Deve Gowda has joined the fray of corruption squabbles in the state between the Kuruba Siddu led Congress and Lingayat Bommai led BJP .
Deve Gowda in his brief regime as the prime minister packed many central institutions such as the AICTE, with his Gowda friends as chairmen. Nepotism and corruption has been the hallmark of Devegowda’s long political life. The Cauvery water dispute with Tamil Nadu has been running since the very first day of the linguistic states’ creation in early 1950s. He was the CM for a time , but did nothing . He was the PM for a few months and did nothing. . His son was the CM for over a year at least, and he did nothing too in terms of resolving the Cauvery water dispute.
The reason why Tamil Nadu political parties like the DMK and AIADMK the main players there -the BJP and Congress do not count there,is because they are purely Tamil Nadu parties , and as such fight for their state . The BJP and Congress leaders at the Centre listen to them, and do not take the Tamil Nadu state leaders for granted as in Karnataka.
The wily old Gowda old goat Deve Gowda is playing very clever politics. By picking this ‘Janata Jaladhare’ slogan, he is focusing on the large swathes of Gowda communities who live in the districts that are benefitting from the rivers he mentioned. These are massive numbers of Gowda voters , who see Deve Gowda as almost a spiritual leader for them. Their votes make the difference , as the JD(S) benefits from their votes. That means almost all Gowda voters will desert the BJP as Lingayat=infested dump, and the Congress with a Kuruba leader, the former CM Siddaramaiah as not serving their interests. To get all Gowda votes, the Congress should have a Gowda leader or to mop up a substantial Lingayat votes, the Congress should have a Lingayat leader. It has neither.
Realising how Gowda voters can make the difference, the central high command oft he BJP led by Amit Shah wanted Shobha Karandlaje to replace this dimwit garlic munching Bommait, who has turned out to be a failure. Shobha Karandlaje has the potential to attract Gowda voters. But the Lingayat Seers, who instead of meditating , pare playing politics to keep Bommai as the BJP leader.
The Old Deve Gowda still has massive influence with Sonia Gandhi with whom he worked at the Centre when he was the PM for a few months. She will listen to Deve Gowda more than she would in the case of Siddaramaiaih, who she considers as a failure .
There is a chance of another JD(S) and Congress coalition government in Karnataka after the next state lection, this time, shunting out Siddaramaiah . This Amit Shah and the BJP high command knows, and hence bringing in Shobha Karandlaje, who as Yediyurappa’s sweet heart will have his blessing too!
The wily old Gowda old goat Deve Gowda is playing very clever politics. By picking this ‘Janata Jaladhare’ slogan, he is focusing on the large swathes of Gowda communities who live in the districts that are benefitting from the rivers he mentioned. These are massive numbers of Gowda voters , who see Deve Gowda as almost a spiritual leader for them. Their votes make the difference , as the JD(S) benefits from their votes. That means almost all Gowda voters will desert the BJP as Lingayat=infested dump, and the Congress with a Kuruba leader, the former CM Siddaramaiah as not serving their interests. To get all Gowda votes, the Congress should have a Gowda leader or to mop up a substantial Lingayat votes, the Congress should have a Lingayat leader. It has neither.
Realising how Gowda voters can make the difference, the central high command oft he BJP led by Amit Shah wanted Shobha Karandlaje to replace this dimwit garlic munching Bommait, who has turned out to be a failure. Shobha Karandlaje has the potential to attract Gowda voters. But the Lingayat Seers, who instead of meditating , pare playing politics to keep Bommai as the BJP leader.
The Old Deve Gowda still has massive influence with Sonia Gandhi with whom he worked at the Centre when he was the PM for a few months. She will listen to Deve Gowda more than she would in the case of Siddaramaiaih, who she considers as a failure .
There is a chance of another JD(S) and Congress coalition government in Karnataka after the next state lection, this time, shunting out Siddaramaiah . This Amit Shah and the BJP high command knows, and hence bringing in Shobha Karandlaje, who as Yediyurappa’s sweet heart will have his blessing too!