Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, May 27: The defeat of JD(S) candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, in spite of employing several tactics and utilizing men and material resources in profusion to ensure the victory of Nikhil, has resulted in loss of face for the JD(S) leadership. The party has begun to analyze the circumstances under which the party faltered there. In all likelihood, heads of three JD(S) ministers from the district might roll.
The leaders have found out that the party's performance was dismal in Melukote, Maddur, and K R Nagar assembly constituencies. Sumalatha had secured good lead in these constituencies. Therefore, C S Puttaraju representing Melukote constituency, D C Thammanna of Maddur, and Sa Ra Mahesh from K R Nagar are expected to be asked to pay the price. They are likely to lose their ministerial berths, it is said.
C S Puttaraju, D C Thammanna and Sa Ra Mahesh
The coalition government in the state is facing a crisis. To appease disgruntled legislators, both the parties are under pressure to accommodate at least a few among them in the ministry. Therefore, in the reorganization of the ministry, there is no other go but to drop a few ministers. Mandya was given good representation in cabinet as the party did extremely well in Mandya district by bagging all the seven seats last year. Although the main reason for Mandya constituency slipping out of JD(S) hands is stated to be the aversion of people towards Deve Gowda's family politics, the leaders fail to assimilate this as a plausible reason.
Sumalatha registered decisive lead of 15,886 votes in Melukote, 18,967 in Maddur and 2,765 in K R Pet constituency. C S Puttaraju, Thammanna and Mahesh are ministers. It is expected that at least two of them may have to sacrifice their positions.
Minister for minor irrigation, C S Puttaraju, has been identified as a loyal leader of JD(S), while D C Thammanna happens to be a close relative of Deve Gowda. Tourism minister, Sa Ra Mahesh too is close to party's top leadership. Therefore the party leaders are in a dilemma, it is learnt.