GTD, Suresh Babu mooted for JD(S) legislature party leader post

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The names of Chamundeshwari MLA GT Devegowda and CB Suresh Babu, who represents Chikkanayakanahalli have emerged for the post of the JD(S) legislature party leader. Former Channapatna MLA HD Kumaraswamy had held the post earlier.

However, he had to vacate his Assembly seat after winning from the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. Kumaraswamy is now the Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Steel and Public Enterprises.

He also holds the post of the JD(S) state president. GT Devegowda’s case for taking over as the outfit’s legislature party leader is that he is an articulate voice for them on the floor of the House. He is a lso perceived as a loyalist of the JD(S) first family. Devegowda famously defeated sitting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah from Chamundeshwari in 2018 in a prestige battle.

He retained the seat in 2023. There were rumours that Devegowda wou ld leave the JD(S) in the lead up to the Assembly polls but he decided to stay when his son was given a ticket. He is also the party’s core committee chairman. However, the issue is that Devegowda is a Vokkaliga.

GTD landing the post might reaffirm the idea that JD(S) is a party where only Vokkaligas flourish.

Therefore, another name that has been floated is that of CB Suresh Babu, a Kuruba leader. Babu had defeated then Law Minister JC Madhuswamy in Chikkanayakanahalli by about more than 10,000 votes, relegating Congressman KS Kiran Kumar to third place.

The impressive w in earned Babu good will in the JD(S) rank and file because the party had managed only 19 seats in last year’s polls.