BANGALORE: Anticipating mid-term polls to the state Assembly following Sriramulu’s victory in the Bellary byelection, the JD(S) is engaging itself in poll preparations. To begin with, party leaders who met at a resort near Bidadi for two days discussed about the party’s strengths and weaknesses in all 224 assembly segments of the state. The meeting - organised amid speculations that Sriramulu, who handed a shocking defeat to the ruling BJP, might try to topple the state government - was chaired by state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy. It was attended by all MLAs, MLCs and district unit chiefs besides key state party functionaries.Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said his party would not destabilise the state government, but expected it to fall on its own. “The government will collapse soon and we should be ready to face the election,” he added. “Party leaders have been directed to prepare a list of 100 winning candidates and send it to party supremo H D Deve Gowda. Strategies to strengthen the party at all levels were also discussed.” The meeting also discussed the changing political scenario in the backdrop of Sriramulu announcing his plan to float a new political party in the state, according to sources in the knowhow.Kumaraswamy also charged that the BJP was conducting “Operation Kamala”, its covert operation to poach legislators, to win over JD(S) MLAs to save its government. “No JD(S) legislator will fall prey to Operation Kamala... our MLAs are with us.”Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy is said to be keen on wooing Sriramulu in a bid to expand the party’s footprint outside the Old Mysore region. The visit of JD(S) MLA Zameer Ahmed to Bellary on Tuesday is seen as an effort to set a meeting between Kumaraswamy and Sriramulu. But Sriramulu is said to have rejected the JD(S)’ offer while expressing gratitude for its support.
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