<p>His Janata Dal (Secular) is unlikely to win the state on its own. But, H.D. Deve Gowda&rsquo;s game plan is to win Old Mysore and emerge kingmaker again</p>

- Prathima Nandakumar

As Karnataka goes to the polls on May 12, a hung assembly seems imminent. While this is bad news for the ruling Congress and the BJP, it promises a new lease on life to Janata Dal (Secular). The regional party could once again be kingmaker.

The JD(S) cannot win on its own. Though it had a 20 per cent vote share in the previous assembly elections, it is confined to only a few districts in the Old Mysore region. But, it can ensure a triangular fight that makes it difficult for the bigger parties to get a clear majority.

Out of power for almost a decade, the JD(S) is battling dissidence, mass exodus of senior leaders, a lack of candidates and dwindling resources. The ‘Vokkaliga party’ had remained afloat by forging power-sharing alliances with the BJP and the Congress. This time, however, the JD(S) has cautiously maintained a safe distance from both parties.

At ‘Amogh’, the Bengaluru home of party patriarch Deve Gowda, a dozen security personnel are on guard. There is a steady stream of visitors, including party members, ticket aspirants, media, VIPs and astrologers. Gowda’s wife, Chennamma, 82, welcomes everyone with a warm smile. She offers the visitors coffee or a meal, depending on the time. “I never dreamed that one day he [Gowda] would enter politics or even become the prime minister,” she said. “He was a contractor when I married him. Though I never stopped him from contesting elections, I worry for him as he is g

このストーリーは、THE WEEK の April 29, 2018 版からのものです。

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