A sign of early polls? JDS's Kumaraswamy buys chopper, books plane

JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy has purchased a helicopter and booked a six-seater flight to tour Karnataka with elections in mind.  This follows him buying a house in Hubli-Dharwad, to create an impression that the JDS also cares for Northern farmers.

Realising that it's a 'do or die' situation for the JD(S) party in  Karnataka, chief HD Kumaraswamy is leaving no stone unturned. Perhaps with this in mind, he has purchased a helicopter and also booked a six-seater plane in advance.

Kumaraswamy confirmed to Asianet Newsable about the investment in air transport and added that he would be touring all of North Karnataka (NK) in his plane, along with party leaders, to strengthen his party in the NK belt.

"The purchase and booking of the plane now works out for the party as rates will be very high during elections.  To reach these places for election campaigns will be difficult for regional parties like us. Both the national parties will book even when the rates are high. Hence, my team and I have invested in a helicopter and a plane," said Kumaraswamy.

He also said the JDS will give prominence to the NK region and will every measure to expand its base in the North and West of  Karnataka. At present, the JD(S) has only 40 MLAs, and 90 percent of their seats are from South Karnataka, where the party is strong.

''The party is likely to announce its manifesto, and also provisional candidates list in a month's time.  This effort is to signal both the national parties Congress and BJP that, JDS is ready for the battle," he said.

Terming this move to booking a plane as 'desperation', Prakash, Spokesperson, Karnataka  BJP Unit said, "The helicopter or plane will take the JD(S) leader to his destination but not to power.  Policy, programme, leadership and popularity is what gets votes, and the JD(S) has lost all the factors,"  

Congress leader VS Ugrappa opined that Congress policy would speak before HDK's helicopter and charter flight. "He was CM, his father HD Deve Gowda was also CM and then PM, but they don't have much base. Our schemes like 'Anna Bhagya' and other programmes will edge his helicopter and flight campaign,"