JD(S) 're-elects' father-son duo as national and state president, unopposed

BENGALURU: The Janata Dal (secular), with no strong leadership in sight, has re-elected the father and son duo of H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy as the party's national and state president respectively on Friday.
Their tenure will run through till the 2018 assembly elections.
Giving more ammunition to their detractors, who have been calling the JD(S) as the father-son's party, the regional outfit found no opponents in the fray to Gowda and Kumaraswamy.
However, vowing to change their "lifestyle" for they had to "reluctantly" accept the posts to lead the party, Gowda and Kumaraswamy said they will strive to ensure JD(S) comes back to power in Karnataka in the 2018 elections.
Kumaaswamy during his speech to the national and state executive members at palace grounds on Friday said the 2018 elections was a trial by fire for the party.
"We need to secure the 113 seats on our own strength and not stand in front of any national party with 50 or 60 seats for a coalition government. People are with us, and I have accepted a challenge to comeback to power this time and resolve the crisis which our state is in," said the former CM and state president, Kumaraswamy.
He said, as part of his regime to tour the state and lead the party to victory, a conscious effort is being made by him to change his lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Gowda said it was becoming increasingly difficult at 84 years to lead a political party.
"But, grave concerns which are facing this nation in a deteriorating political atmosphere remain to be challenged and I am committed to protecting the democracy of this country. My voice will grow louder in the Parliament," he assured the party workers.
Gowda called for the JD(S) to enroll a minimum of one crore people in the party for its survival and future.
The two leaders also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the demonetization and brought to the forefront the problems faced by the common man due to the PM’s ill-planned ploy to eradicate "black money" from the nation.
Party asked Janata Parivar and Left parties to come together and fight "fascists".
The Janata Dal (Secular) on Friday gave an open invitation to the Janata Parivar allies and the left parties along with the socialists to form a common platform and fight the BJP.
Expressing their dismay and surprise over Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s stance on demonetisation and calling for a united front against BJP, the JD(S) in its political resolution said, "The shocking U-turn of certain socialist leaders and outfits has betrayed and weekend the efforts of mobilisation of the people power... Janata Dal (Secular) calls upon all democratic, socialist and secular forces along with Janata Parivar Comrades and Left parties to come together and share a common platform to fight against the fascist inventions of the ruling party at the Centre in all the social, political and economic fields by reviewing the legendary slogan of Total revolution imparted by none other than Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan to repeat the historic struggle to regain and protect a socialist, secular and democratic India."