LS bypoll: JD(S) to get into a huddle

BANGALORE: Early birds catch the fly is the dictum that has guided the JD(S) leadership to meet and discuss the prospective candidate for the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha byelection as well as to strengthen the party in anticipation of snap polls to the Assembly.“The meeting of senior leaders, office bearers and district unit presidents will be held in the city on Wednesday. Party leaders, including H D Deve Gowda, H D Kumaraswamy and others, will be present where an action plan will be chalked out for campaigning in the parliamentary constituency and state-wide tours of leaders,” JD (S) general secretary and MLC Y S V Datta told reporters here on Tuesday.In the considered assessment of the party’s leadership, it is crucial to win the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat for which the dates are yet to be announced.“The Election Commission can announce the date for the byelection any time. Wednesday’s meeting will draw a broad outline of the campaign,” Datta added.According to Datta, the LS seat is a matter of personal prestige for Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda as he had previously held that seat before becoming the CM.“A defeat to the BJP there would result in a loss of face for the chief minister, which can trigger a crisis and become crucial in the internal strife in the BJP which could also lead to the snap polls to the state Assembly. Wednesday’s meeting will also take stock of all these possible developments after which an action plan would be prepared,” the JD (S) general secretary elucidated.