Bangalore: Enthused by the good show in the recent assembly by-elections, where it won three of the eight seats, the JDS will organise a rally of "exploited sections of society" in the district headquarters town of Koppala on January 17 as part of efforts to galvanise the party for the Lok Sabha elections.

Party leaders said a similar farmers rally organised here on November 17 had helped JDS win the three seats and also boosted the morale of the party rank and file.

"It s aimed at mobilising voiceless people and putting pressure on the State and Central governments to devise programmes for their benefit", state JDS President H D Kumaraswamy told reporters.

Party leaders said similar rallies are planned in other regions of the state after the Koppala public meeting - either in Chitradurga or Davangere and in Mysore.

They said the event was intended to mobilise the exploited sections - Backward Classes, Dalits, minorities, labourers, unorganised and farm workers and rural artisans and women.

Asked if the rally was to counter "AHINDA" (an apolitical movement of minorities, Backward Classes and Dalits), with which disgruntled Congress leader and bete-noire of JDS supremo H D Devegowda, Siddaramaiah, is identified with, Kumaraswamy said the event was not aimed at contracting the influence of any individual or force.
Source : PTI