Karnataka: Gowda to don Mayawati's cap?

Tumkur: UP Chief Minister Mayawati had sent her aide Sathishchandra Mishra as her representative on March 12, 2009 when the JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda put up the United National Progressive Alliance (Third Front) ‘samavesha’ at Dabbaspet. The samavesha was ahead of LS polls forging an alliance of 10 parties against the two national parties-the BJP and the Congress. The former prime minister was anticipating that the ‘Dalit icon’ would herself attend the ‘samavesha’ which would also help the JD(S) to play a strong regional force.

Years later, it seems that the JD(S) have not given up the idea of ‘bahujan’ politics. It is being said that the SC samaveshwa SC samavesha here on Sunday was any indication to this. The man and son duo Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy and other leaders indicated adopting Mayawati’s acumen to root out the national parties from the state. They stressed that the party was not bound to any ‘caste’ or ‘family’ but stood for depressed classes.

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy claimed that B R Ambedkar’s ideals were akin to the JD(S) party’s principal of sharing the power with the oppressed classes. He also promised a loan waiver for Dalits like that of farmers. Gowda also analysed the caste system and expressed concern over marginalised communities, especially the nomadic tribes. “I suggest a separate development corporation in the government for these communities,” suggested Gowda.

It seems that the JD(S) have not given up the idea of 'bahujan' politics.

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