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.
This story is from the October 17, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 17, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.
Men eye the woman's purse
A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.
When trees hold hands
A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges
Ms Gee & Gen Z
The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.
Superman bites the dust
When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.
