Janata Dal - Secular

The Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)): (Kannada: ಜನತಾ ದಳ (ಜಾತ್ಯಾತೀತ)) is a Centre-left Indian political party led by former Prime Minister of India Shri H.D. Deve Gowda. The party is recognized as a state party in the states of Karnataka and Kerala. It was formed in July 1999 by the split of Janata Dal party. It has a political presence mainly in Karnataka. In Kerala, the party is part of the Left Democratic Front.

History:-


JD(S) propaganda in Bangalore.
The Janata Dal (Secular) traces its roots back to the organized by that united all anti-Indira Gandhi parties under one banner for the 1977 national elections.The Janata Party split twice, first in 1979 and then in 1980 leading to the birth of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which comprised members of the erstwhile Jan Sangh which was close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Janata Dal was formed in Bangalore by the merger of the Janata Party with smaller opposition parties in 1988. In 1996, Janata Dal party 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 BJP-led National Democratic Alliance leading to the formation of Janata Dal (Secular) under H. D. Deve Gowda. 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.

JD(S) in Karnataka state for a time governed in a coalition with the Indian National Congress (INC) party, the first coalition government in Karnataka. There was much controversy over the JD(S) allying with the INC in Bangalore as the INC formerly had an outright majority and was diminished to second place with the BJP having a plurality. However, the JD(S) considered INC to be the lesser of the two evils on account of its erstwhile secular and center left credentials.

The 2004 elections in Karnataka witnessed the revival of the party’s fortunes with JD(S) becoming part of the ruling coalition in the state. Subsequently, party leader H. D. Kumaraswamy headed a popular coalition government in the state for 20 months with support from the BJP.

In the 2014 general election, the JD-S gave support to the Social Democratic Party of India in Dakshin Kannada.

On 14 April 2015, the JD(S), Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Indian National Lok Dal, Samajwadi Party, and Samajwadi Janata Party announced that they would merge into a new national Janata Parivar alliance in order to oppose the BJP, thus leaving the UPA.

Prominent members:-

1. H.D. Deve Gowda,President of Janata Dal (Secular),former Prime Minister of India and Former Chief Minister of Karnataka.
2. N. M. Joseph,Vice President of Janata Dal (Secular).
3. Kunwar Danish Ali, National Secretary General of Janata Dal (Secular).
4. H. D. Kumaraswamy, former Chief Minister of Karnataka,son of former Prime Minister of India H.D. Deve Gowda and Karnataka State President of Janata Dal (Secular).
5. M.S. Narayana Rao, Former MLA and Karnataka State Working President of Janata Dal (Secular)
6. Late. S.Bangarappa,Former Chief Minister of Karnataka.
7. Mathew T. Thomas, Kerala State President of Janata Dal (Secular).

Chief Ministers:-

H. D. Kumaraswamy - February 3, 2006 to October 9, 2007

Assembly election history in Karnataka

Year Assembly Election Seats Contested Seats Won Votes Secured Percentage Of Votes
1999 11th Assembly 203 10 23,16,885 10.42
2004 12th Assembly 220 58 52,20,121 20.77%
2008 13th Assembly 219 28 49,59,252 18.96%
2013 14th Assembly 222 40 63,29,864 20.09%
Lok Sabha election history in Karnataka[edit]

Year Lok Sabha Election Seats Contested Seats Won Votes Secured Percentage Of Votes
2004 14th Lok Sabha 28 02 51,35,205 20.45%
2009 15th Lok Sabha 21 03 33,35,530 13.58%
2014 16th Lok Sabha 25 02 34,06,465 11.00%