The Janata Dal (Secular) (transl. People's Party (Secular); abbr. JD(S)) is an Indian political party recognised as a state party in the Indian state of Karnataka. It was founded by the former prime minister of India H. D. Deve Gowda in July 1999 as a breakaway faction from the Janata Dal.
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History
The Janata Dal (Secular), formed in 1999, had its origins in the Janata Party, founded in 1977 as a coalition of several smaller parties that combined forces to oppose the Indian National Congress. In 1988 the Janata Party and other smaller parties merged to form the Janata Dal. In 1996, Janata Dal reached its pinnacle when H. D. Deve Gowda became Prime Minister of India, heading the United Front (UF) coalition government.
The Janata Dal split in 1999, when a faction led by Chief Minister J. H. Patel lent support to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance leading to the formation of Janata Dal (Secular) under H. D. Deve Gowda and Siddaramaiah. The Sharad Yadav faction of the Janata Dal, the Lok Shakti and the Samata Party merged as the Janata Dal (United). Even though the premise for the split was its opposition to allying with the National Democratic Alliance, H. D. Deve Gowda stayed equally away from the Indian National Congress from the outset.
The 2004 Karnataka Assembly election witnessed the revival of the party's fortunes with JD(S) becoming part of the ruling coalition in the state.
Kumaraswamy was made as Chief Minister of Karnataka from 4 February 2006 to 9 October 2007.
On 27 September 2007, Kumaraswamy said that he would leave office on 3 October as part of a power-sharing agreement between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite the calls of some legislators in the JD(S) for him to remain in office for the time being, due to complications in arranging the transfer of power. However, on 4 October 2007, he refused to transfer power to the BJP. Finally, on 8 October 2007, he tendered his resignation to Governor Rameshwar Thakur, and the state was put under President's rule two days later. However, he reconciled later and decided to offer support to the BJP. BJP's B. S. Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on 12 November 2007.
But, again refused to support BJP government over a disagreement on sharing of ministries which resulted in Yeddyurappa resignation as Chief Minister on 19 November 2007.
After the untimely demise of Karnataka state JD(S) President Merajuddin Patel, he was elected unopposed as President of the state unit.
In 2013 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election, party gained Official Opposition (India) status, rather than ruling party BJP. Kumaraswamy is also known for accusing political rivals of corruption.
In 2018 elections in Karnataka state, JD(S) was the third-largest party but after a post-poll alliance with the Rahul Gandhi led Indian National Congress, kumaraswamy was sworn in as the Chief Minister for 2nd term on 23 May 2018.
In the 2019 parliament elections, Kumaraswamy son Nikhil Gowda contested in the Mandya (Lok Sabha constituency) against an independent candidate Sumalatha, wife of film actor Late Ambareesh. Kumaraswamy took this contest as a prestige and campaigned all across the constituency. In vain his son lost the election by a margin of 1,30,000 odd votes. Party's national president Devegowda also defeated in his new constiency Tumkuru. Then, PWD Minister H. D. Revanna's son Prajwell was only to manage to win in his family bastion.
On the month of July 2019, JDS government lost its majority when 13 MLAs of Congress and 3 MLAs of his own party resigned to their MLA Posts. BSP MLA Mahesh N & 2 Independent MLAs withdrew their support for H.D.Kumaraswamy led coalition Government in Karnataka. On 23 July Kumaraswamy lost his majority in Karnataka floor test.
Kumaraswamy resigned to the Chief Minister post, by submitting his resignation letter to governor Vajubhai Vala on 23 July 2019. Then BJP was invited to form the government as the single largest party, by the governor and B. S.Yediyurappa took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka by succeeding him.
In the 2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections, it was managed to win 19 seats of the contested 204 seats in the same elections. It has a political presence mainly in Karnataka and is in decline. In September 2023, JD(S) joined the BJP controlled National Democratic Alliance. In Kerala, the party had a small state unit which is part of the state government coalition, the Left Democratic Front. The state unit has refused to be part of the right wing NDA and are in rebellion against their national leadership for having joined hands with the BJP.
Prominent members
H. D. Deve Gowda, President of Janata Dal (Secular), Former Prime Minister of India and Former Chief minister of Karnataka
H. D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries of Government of India, Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Karnataka State President of Janata Dal (Secular)
H. D. Revanna, former cabinet minister, present MLA, Karnataka (son of H. D. Deve Gowda).
Nikhil Gowda, state president, Yuva Janata Dal (Secular)
B. M. Farooq, current MLC of Karnataka Legislative Council, current national general secretary of Janata Dal (Secular)
C. S. Puttaraju, former minister for small irrigation resources, and former member of parliament, Lok Sabha from Mandya
G. T. Devegowda, former minister for higher education, and member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Chamundeshwari (Vidhana Sabha constituency
Sharanagouda Kandakur is an Indian politician from Karnataka. He is an MLA from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency in Yadgir district representing Janata Dal (Secular).
Oommen Thalavady, former MLA Kuttanad, Kerala Legislative Assembly
Sarekoppa Bangarappa, former chief minister of Karnataka
N. M. Joseph, vice president of Janata Dal (Secular)
D. Kupendra Reddy, Former MP of Rajya Sabha
Mathew T. Thomas, Kerala State president of Janata Dal (Secular) and former Kerala State minister