Bengaluru: Former chief minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy’s ‘Junket diplomacy’ to keep his legislators secure from poaching by the BJP and Congress, seems to have come a cropper with 11 of the total 14 JD(S) members of the state legislative council deciding not to join the junket.
The legislators were supposed to accompany Mr Kumaraswamy on the junket to Malaysia on November 3 from Bengaluru. The purpose of the junket was to build bridges with party legislators and plead with them not to leave the party, said sources. But JD(S) MLCs led by senior member, Mr Basavaraj Horatti have decided not to accompany the former CM and cited the floods in their respective constituencies as the reason. They felt it was wrong on their part to leave the state and go on a foreign jaunt at a time, when several parts of the North Karnataka region are yet to recover from the devastating effect of the floods. Besides, they suspect that they would be embarrassed by the media if they went off on a foreign trip.
Without mincing words, Mr Horatti said they did not want to go with Mr Kumaraswamy as their relationship had soured long ago. The former CM had no respect for senior leaders and runs the party as per his whims and fancies, he said, adding that in the present circumstances, there was no point in accompanying him to Malaysia. Except Mr Bhojegowda and Mr Appajigowda, none of the JD(S) MLCs are accompanying the former CM, he added.
It is a known fact that the ties between Mr Horatti and Mr Kumaraswamy became strained after the former was unceremoniously removed from the post of chairman of the legislative council. Mr Horatti also lambasted his party leaders for neglecting the interests of legislators and not taking anyone into confidence.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Ramanagara, senior JD(S) MLC Puttanna said almost all of them have decided to quit JD(S) and join BJP. “Our party leaders are not bothered about us which has pained us a lot. We have resolved to quit the party.” as early as possible.”
