Union steel and heavy industries minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday announced that his party, the JDS, would choose the next state unit president through polls by April this year. Kumaraswamy is the current president of the state unit.
Kumaraswamy, speaking to the media after a party meeting in Bengaluru, clarified that they have not discussed on who will succeed him. “Important decisions were made during the meeting regarding the party’s organizational elections, membership drives, preparations for district and taluk panchayat elections, and strengthening the party structure.”
The party had decided to elect the state unit president. “I have been firm about the need to focus on strengthening the party. Priority will be given to those who work sincerely for the party’s growth. I, too, will regularly involve myself in organizational activities.” He responded to concerns that his role as a Union Minister has created a leadership vacuum in the state, saying, “I spend four days a week working at the ministry in New Delhi, one or two days visiting factories under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Steel, and devote the remaining time to party work. I have scheduled visits for organizational activities, meetings, tours, and work in the Mandya constituency.”
HDK HITS BACK AT PATIL
Kumaraswamy fired back at state industries minister MB Patil for saying that the regional party would cease to exist after Sankaranti festival (Jan 14) suggesting that they would join the Congress. He asked the minister to first look at the situation in his own party. “In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party is contesting elections independently, sidelining Congress. Omar Abdullah has asked for the INDI alliance to be dissolved. In Maharashtra, Shiv Sena has announced they will face local body elections independently. Where is Congress in all of this?” Kumaraswamy said the Congress was in a disarray and asked Patil to focus on fixing the cracks within the Congress, instead of making baseless statements about JDS. “Our party is resilient. Defeat and victory are not new to us. We did not shrink in defeat, nor do we boast in victory. Congress cannot tolerate our strength, which is why they resort to such drama. Let me make it clear – their plans will not work.” The union minister criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, questioning his contributions to the welfare of minorities, backward classes, and Dalits (Ahinda) communities. “How many years has the Kantaraj Report been with the government? What solutions have they provided for the issues faced by these communities? Siddaramaiah served as CM for seven years. What has he done for AHINDA groups? Beyond political rhetoric, he has failed to deliver meaningful results for them,” he said. “Rahul Gandhi talks about conducting castebased census wherever he goes. The central government has already decided on this matter. The state government should wait for the Centre’s report. The existing statelevel caste census report is flawed, having exceeded 10 years since its completion. If the state wants a new report, let them conduct one and bear the costs. But they should stop looting people’s money.”
Taking a dig at the CM, he said, “Some people are sitting idle, waiting for funds from the central government. Let them form another committee with such people and conduct a new census.”