Karnataka Election 2023, H. D. Deve Gowda Profile: JD(S) chief counts on Vokkaliga votebank to steer his party to victory

Karnataka Election 2023: H. D. Deve Gowda — the grand old man of Karnataka politics seems quietly confident of his party Janata Dal (Secular)'s prospects in the May 10 Assembly polls in the state. The former Prime Minister, Karnataka CM and JD(S) chief had to withdraw from active campaigning due to age-related ailments, but his sway over vokkaliga votebank in the state is as strong as ever.

Born on May 18, 1933, in Haradanahalli village of Holenarasipura taluk, Hassan district in Karnataka, Deve Gowda is a civil engineering diploma holder. His sons H. D. Kumaraswamy and H. D. Revanna are also a prominent part of JD(S) and the party's hopes in Karnataka polls. Kumaraswamy has served two terms as the state CM, while Revanna is an MLA representing the Holenarasipur constituency.

JD (S) formed a coalition government with Congress in a hung assembly situation in the 2018 elections. The JD’s (S) HD Kumaraswamy became the chief minister for his second term. However, the government was short-lived, as in 2019, 15 MLAs from the JD(S) and Congress put down their papers, triggering a bypoll. 

In the 2019 bypoll, the BJP formed the government with BS Yediyurappa being sworn in as the chief minister of the state for his fourth term. The veteran BJP leader had to however step down due to party differences, and his party’s Basavaraj Bommai took over as the new chief minister on July 28, 2021.  

At present, the BJP has 113 seats, the Congress (74), JD (S) 27, and 10 seats are vacant in the legislative assembly.

Karnataka Election 2023: Background and full schedule

The three-pronged contest is set to take place on May 10, 2023, Wednesday. The Karnataka Legislative Assembly's term will expire on May 24, 2023. The Election Commission has scheduled the vote counting on May 13, 2023, Saturday.

For all other news related to business, politics, tech, sports and auto, visit Zeebiz.com