Roadmap to power

Under Kumaraswamy, the Janata Dal (Secular) is quietly gearing up to expand its presence and is gunning to win the 2023 polls

- PRATHIMA NANDAKUMAR

AROUND 30KM from Bengaluru is a sprawling coconut plantation at Bidadi, owned by Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. The plantation recently played host to a big gathering of party leaders and workers, with rows of tents and convoys of cars interrupting the calm of the countryside.

The eye of the action was the farmhouse, where Kumaraswamy had earlier spent several months in solitude to plan the huge event and chart a roadmap for the party. The first phase of the event involved JD(S) legislators and ticket hopefuls painstakingly answering an exhaustive questionnaire—what they thought of their abilities and attitude, how they viewed the party and its leadership, their understanding of the social and political dynamics in their constituencies, their big strategy to win the seat, and so on. As they answered the queries, Kumaraswamy played the role of the invigilator. Later came his PowerPoint presentation that unveiled his grand plan—the JD(S) roadmap to victory in the 2023 assembly polls.

Under Kumaraswamy, the party is quietly gearing up to expand its reach beyond the traditional base in the Old Mysuru region. Sensing that the hung verdict after the 2018 polls and the prevailing political volatility in the state have presented a great opportunity, Kumaraswamy has launched ‘Mission 123’ to win a clear majority in the 224-member assembly. The first part of the mission was Janata Parva—a seven-day workshop at Bidadi for legislators, ticket hopefuls, heads of the party’s various wings and party workers.