Kumaraswamy’s hotel politics: More leaders to checkout and bid goodbye to JD(S)?

It's not just the Congress and the BJP which were upset with former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's style of administration that was run from a five-star hotel rather than the official bungalow. Many leaders are reportedly planning to leave the JD(S)  

While one knows the story of BJP and Congress MLAs failing to secure meetings with HD Kumaraswamy during his term as CM of Karnataka that lasted for a year, even his own party leaders seem to be upset with the fact that Kumaraswamy stayed and functioned from a five-star hotel close to Vidhana Soudha.

According to a source, JD(S) leaders like Basavaraj Horatti, Ramesh Babu and many others expressed shock over this move, and few are reportedly planning to leave the party.

"The stay at the hotel and functioning as CM from there sent a wrong message to the public. I had expressed my displeasure to JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda too. This has dented the party's image," said JD(S) MLC Marithibbe Gowda.

Congress leaders say the stay at the hotel and not meeting MLAs and leaders was one of the major reason for Congress MLAs and JD(S) MLAs turning rebel.

"While he (HDK) locked himself at star hotel and screened leaders who came to meet him, it was his brother HD Revanna who was calling the shots. This caused damage to the government and the government collapsed as few decided to cross over and join the BJP which came up with a ‘good offer', said Kengal Shreepada Renu, Congress spokesperson.

JD(S) has reached its end: BJP

The regional party that once was in power for a full term of five years, is on the brink of extinction. "There is a lack of leadership, lack of direction. While top leaders stayed at the hotel and the posts were distributed among the family members, party leaders and supporters felt embarrassed and started drifting away," said S Prakash, BJP spokesperson.