The May 12 Karnataka Assembly election is being seen as the battle to stay relevant for former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S), the lone surviving active offshoot of the erstwhile Janata Dal in the state.
Many within the party and in political circles feel that the coming election is a testing one for the JD(S) to remain politically relevant as it has been out of power for over 10 years now.
They say, besides improving its tally in the Assembly, the JD(S) will have to look for chances to cling on to power.
Internal squabbling, tag of father-son and Vokkaliga-only party are the issues the Janata Dal (Secular) has to immediately address to restore its pan Karnataka image that the erstwhile Janata Dal, which dominated state politics in the 1980s, enjoyed.
The JD(S) today has considerable presence in old Mysuru region, where the Vokkaliga community has a dominant presence and is restricted to a few pockets in the rest of the state.
Conceding that it is the battle of survival for the JD(S), senior leader and MLA Y S V Datta said his party was trying to cash in on the goodwill of the people, who have seen both the BJP and the Congress in power, and is seeking a "chance".
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"Of course, it is a battle of survival for our party, because we are out of power for 10 years...," he told PTI.
He noted that in 2008 there was a charge against H D Kumaraswamy that he did not hand over power to Yeddyurappa, resulting in the Lingayat community voting against the party.
In 2013, Siddaramaiah alleged that JD(S) denied him the post of chief minister, resulting in an anti-Kuruba wave.
"People punished us in both elections. But now after seeing both parties in power, there is realisation among people to give a chance to JD(S)."
Pointing that the JD(S) last time won 40 seats, the same number as the BJP, Narayana said in many constituencies they came a close second, meaning it has some kind of potential and strength. "So I don't think it is a battle for survival; the party will stay, but it might stay out of power."
He said that "until the JD(S)'s hold on Vokkaliga votes lasts, the party will last."
"Many would argue that Karnataka is being reduced to a two party competition between Congress and BJP. JD(S), I think, in this election is trying to prove that as a third force it is still important and relevant to the politics of Karnataka."
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