Latest news with #NikhilKumaraswamy
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
As BJP battles infighting, Nikhil leads JD(S) north Karnataka push
Bengaluru: With the BJP state unit caught in internal disarray and uncertainty over its leadership in Karnataka, its alliance partner Janata Dal (Secular) is wasting no time in seizing the moment. JD(S), led by its youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy, is expanding aggressively into both Kittur and Kalyana Karnataka regions—territories where it once held marginal sway and sees strong revival potential. After launching its state-wide outreach campaign on June 14 in Tumakuru, JD(S) held rallies in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and Chitradurga. Thursday, the party marked a key milestone with a massive rally in Badami, a constituency from where chief minister Siddaramaiah won by a narrow margin in 2018 assembly polls. JD(S) functionaries said the Badami rally signals the start of a renewed focus on northern districts such as Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Koppal, and Raichur. With BJP distracted by internal issues, JD(S) appears determined to rebuild its base and emerge as a crucial player ahead of the next assembly elections. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "People are fed up with the misrule and corruption of the Congress govt and they would definitely look for an alternative in the next assembly polls, and NDA is the natural choice. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Being the alliance partners, we have started rebuilding our support base in the districts in both south and north Karnataka, where we have the potential to win a substantial number of assembly seats," said state JD(S) chief and union minister HD Kumaraswamy. Nikhil has reportedly identified 80 winnable assembly seats across the state. The party has already begun shortlisting candidates with the aim of bargaining hard for around 100 seats when NDA seat-sharing talks begin. "It is certain that the JD(S)-BJP alliance will continue, as our leaders HD Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy have made it clear about our goals. While it is important to defeat Congress, we will see to it that NDA is intact and the JD(S) and BJP strive hard to install a pro-people govt by winning the next election," said Nikhil. Meanwhile, BJP—wary of being overshadowed by its junior partner—is planning a Sanghatana Parva campaign to revitalise its organisation. Block-level office-bearers will meet Saturday in Kalaburagi, followed by a similar session in Ballari division. "JD(S) is free to plan programmes to revive its organisational strength. We are just focusing on our strategies... It is too early to talk about the prospects of the alliance with JD(S)," said BJP general secretary P Rajiv.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nikhil Asks for white paper on KK region development
Kalaburagi: In response to CM Siddaramaiah's claims about providing 13 thousand crores for Kalyana Karnataka's development, JD(S) youth unit state president Nikhil Kumaraswamy has called for the state govt to release a white paper detailing the specific development projects. Speaking at a press conference at the district JD(S) office in Kalaburagi, he emphasised the importance of the Karnataka govt's commitment to welfare programmes. He questioned Siddaramaiah's statements in Yadgir regarding KKRDB expenditure, requesting clarification on fund allocation. He highlighted the extensive sand mafia operations in Sedam and Chittapura regions of Kalaburagi district, noting illegal sand mining worth approximately Rs 165 crore. While the deputy commissioner is monitoring the situation, he criticised the state govt's lack of action and urged immediate attention to this issue. Addressing education concerns, he pointed out the declining ESL results in Kalaburagi district and called for swift govt action to fill vacant teaching positions. Regarding party activities, he reported that the 'Janata Dal with the People of JD(S) Party' campaign has successfully registered 4 lakh members through missed calls, with over 1 lakh active participants. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo He explained that the Janata Dal tour aims to strengthen JD(S) at the grassroots level. The registration drive will continue across north and south regions, with senior leaders planning major conferences in Old Mysore and Kalaburagi (Kalyana Karnataka region) after Aug 20.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
There are many internal fractures in Cong: Nikhil Kumaraswamy
Bidar: Commenting on the current political scenario in Karnataka, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the president of the JD(S) state youth wing, emphasised that while there are discussions about potential changes in Sept, the focus should be on the ongoing developments within the Congress party. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During a media interaction in Bidar, he pointed out that despite chief minister Siddaramaiah's assertions about completing a full five-year term, internal divisions within the Congress are becoming increasingly apparent. Some factions are openly expressing their dissatisfaction, whilst others are working behind the scenes. At the 'Janarondige JD(S)' rally, Nikhil outlined his vision for strengthening the party's presence in the Kalyana Karnataka region. He specifically aimed to secure support for at least 20 candidates from this area. Addressing criticisms about JD(S) being limited to old Mysuru, he cited the enthusiastic reception former Prime Minister HD Devegowda received in Devadurga. Regarding regional development, he challenged the current govt to demonstrate tangible progress in the Kalyana Karnataka region, despite significant financial allocations to the Board. He questioned the effectiveness of fund utilisation and the lack of visible development projects. Nikhil also drew attention to Congress's diminishing national presence, noting their governance in only three states. He highlighted the financial challenges faced by Congress-ruled states, particularly mentioning Himachal Pradesh's economic struggles and Telangana's difficulties in fulfilling welfare promises. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The JD(S) youth leader's statements reflect broader concerns about governance, regional development, and political stability in Karnataka. His observations suggest ongoing political uncertainty and potential changes in the state's political landscape.
New Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Crises in BJP, Congress may help JDS seize opportunity in Karnataka local body elections
BENGALURU: With ruling Congress and main opposition BJP facing crises over the change in leadership, the regional party JDS is quietly organising its rank and file to make an impact during elections to local bodies, including BBMP, that are likely to be announced in November-December. To make the best of the present advantage and opportunity, JDS may even go it alone in the polls, party sources said. Its alliance partner BJP is struggling to put its house in order with the demand for a change in the state party president post. On the other hand, Congress is facing challenges with party MLAs openly expressing their displeasure over the functioning of the government and its ministers. JDS has now launched a 57-day membership drive, focusing on the Old Mysuru region, which has been its traditional Vokkaliga bastion, and North Karnataka, where party patriarch HD Deve Gowda and his grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy are touring to garner support for the party, said Nagaraju, a party functionary. Nikhil told reporters in Mandya on Sunday, 'I don't agree that there will be a political revolution in the state (as predicted by Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna), but people will throw away the Congress government after it completes three years in office. I toured Raichur district and grasped the pulse of the people. Not only JDS workers, but every person in the state feels (Union Minister for Heavy Industries) HD Kumaraswamy should become CM in 2028.' Gowda's intervention to get the Centre to announce the minimum support price for mangoes, helping farmers, and Kumaraswamy's performance as a union minister to the satisfaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have boosted the morale of party workers, party sources said. 'If Siddaramaiah steps down as CM, the government will get destabilised. But it is too early to predict whether Vokkaligas will rally behind Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar if he becomes CM,' said a JD(S) sympathiser, who is also a Vokkaliga. The priority of JDS is zilla and taluk panchayat polls to keep its base intact, especially in the Old Mysuru region and expand it across the state, another party functionary said. JDS Legislature Party leader B Suresh Babu said the party will have an edge in the local body polls because of the crisis in Congress. 'JDS is likely to continue its alliance with BJP and it will be decided ahead of polls. It will help both parties,' he added.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Amid uncertainty over alliance with BJP, JD(S) sets out to strengthen party machinery
Bengaluru: JD(S) has launched a state-wide organisational revival drive as doubts swirl around its alliance with BJP in Karnataka. In a strategic move, JD(S) kicked off an ambitious online membership campaign on Sunday, aiming to enrol 50 lakh new members by Aug 15. As part of the campaign, JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy began a state tour on Monday from Tumakuru, focusing first on southern Karnataka districts — considered the Vokkaliga heartland — in a bid to consolidate the party's core support base. The heightened political activity in JD(S) comes amid rising tension within BJP over the future of the alliance. The two parties, which had earlier jointly taken on the Congress-led govt, have recently conducted separate agitations — notably over price rise and the M Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede incident, where they refrained from presenting a united front. While both parties have confirmed they will contest upcoming zilla and taluk panchayat polls separately, a section of BJP functionaries is pushing to sever ties entirely ahead of the next assembly elections. "BJP is strong enough to defeat Congress on its own," said Sakaleshpur legislator S Manjunath, popularly known as Cement Manju. "An alliance with JD(S) could deny us a clear mandate." But JD(S) functionaries insist an alliance is crucial to challenge Congress' dominance in the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Walgreens Hides This Cheap 87¢ Generic Cialis Health Alliance by Friday Plans Undo Former MLC and party election coordinator KA Tippeswamy said the alliance primarily targets assembly and parliamentary polls and would continue for the next assembly election as well. "Our party brass has decided to leave it to district functionaries to decide on a tie-up for ZP and TP elections," he said. Speaking at the launch of the membership drive, JD(S) state president and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy dismissed rumours of a rift. "The alliance is intact. Vested interests are even spreading canards about my health. Those spreading rumours about the fragility of the alliance or about my health will be proven wrong. We will present a united front to defeat Congress," Kumaraswamy said. Sources indicate BJP's central leadership is in favour of the alliance, given growing concerns about internal cohesion and the party's struggle to consolidate Vokkaliga votes. They point out that while BJP state president BY Vijayendra faces resistance from some factions, a significant section of BJP members, especially from the Vokkaliga community, view the partnership with JD(S) as vital. Former deputy chief minister and senior BJP legislator CN Ashwath Narayan echoed this sentiment, saying, "Our mission is to oust this corrupt and incompetent govt and ensure a Congress-mukt Karnataka. We will do whatever is necessary, and our high command will take a final call on the alliance and election strategy."
