Can Jayaprakash Hegde be JDS-Cong candidate from Udupi-Ckm in 2019?

Udupi, Dec 8: Speculations are rife in political circles that former minister K Jayaprakash Hegde, who is currently lodged in Bharatiya Janata Party, may migrate to Janata Dal (Secular), if the ruling party of Karnataka assures him of ticket from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Mr Hegde, who was elected to the parliament in 2012 bypoll to Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency as a Congress candidate, later lost the constituency to BJP’s Shobha Karandlaje in 2014 general polls.

He joined the saffron party in March 2017, almost one and a half year after he was expelled from the Congress for contesting the state legislative council polls as a rebel candidate. Prior to becoming an MP, he was elected thrice to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Brahmavara constituency and served as minister holding various portfolios.

Sources say that Mr Hegde is not happy with the way BJP leaders treating him for past one and a half year. Though Mr Hegde, has not publicly expressed his dissatisfaction so far, sources say that he has been silently working towards taking a big step ahead of looming Lok Sabha polls.

On the other hand, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who wants to strengthen JD(S) in coastal Karnataka, is also reportedly considering to welcome Mr Hegede, who has a large number of supporters in the region.

JD(S) requires green signal from Congress before fielding any candidate in 2019 polls if the two parties formally enter a seat sharing agreement. Congress may face rebellion from its local leaders in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru districts if it allows JD(S) to field candidate in the constituency, where regional party is currently in third position after BJP and Congress.

If BJP agrees to field Mr Hegde from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency, both Congress and JD(S) may face a tough challenge. However, political pundits believe that BJP may think twice before finalising candidate as it has to give priority to “original” Hindutva leaders over “migrants” to avoid rebellion within the party.