Archive · 13 Nov 2025
JD(S) Quietly Remakes Leadership, Elevates Family Scions Amidst MLA Shift
Imagine a big team, the JD(S) political party.
One of the team captains, G T Devegowda, who was in charge of a special team called the core committee, has been replaced.
The party says he wasn't showing up to meetings and leading his team much.
The new captain is M Krishna Reddy.
At the same time, the sons and grandsons of the party's founder, Mr. Deve Gowda, are getting more important jobs.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the founder's grandson, is now on a big planning team, and Suraj Revanna, another family member, is on a team that plans how to win elections.
Some people wonder if the founder's family is trying to take more control of the team.
However, the party says everyone, including older members, is being given important jobs and they are all working together.
The JD(S) replaced MLA G T Devegowda as head of its core committee with M Krishna Reddy.
G T Devegowda had reportedly become disengaged from party affairs and had not convened meetings.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy, grandson of party founder H D Deve Gowda, has been appointed to the political affairs committee.
Suraj Revanna, another family member, has been made a member of the party's campaign committee.
The changes come amid speculation about the Gowda family consolidating its influence within the party.
- Who
- Janata Dal (Secular) party leadership, including party founder H D Deve Gowda's family members and MLA G T Devegowda.
- What
- The JD(S) party has replaced MLA G T Devegowda as the head of its core committee and appointed younger members of the Deve Gowda family to key positions.
- When
- The replacement of G T Devegowda occurred earlier this week; other appointments have been made in recent months.
- Where
- Karnataka, India.
- Why
- The party states G T Devegowda was removed due to disinterest in party affairs and inactivity, ahead of upcoming local elections. There is also speculation that family members are consolidating power.
Party Justification
Implicit Concerns
G T Devegowda's Role
Party Justification
G T Devegowda was removed as head of the core committee because he was not interested in party affairs and had not convened meetings, hindering the committee's activity ahead of local elections.
Implicit Concerns
G T Devegowda's removal and the sidelining of senior leaders raise questions about whether the Gowda family is tightening its control over the party, despite claims that all senior leaders are being accommodated.
Promoting Youth and Family
Party Justification
The elevation of younger family members like Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Suraj Revanna is a natural progression and part of accommodating senior leaders with specific roles.
Implicit Concerns
The prominence given to scions of the 'first family,' such as Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Suraj Revanna, alongside the removal of a veteran MLA, suggests a deliberate reshaping of leadership to consolidate family influence.
- Party
- Janata Dal (Secular) - JD(S)
- G T Devegowda's Former Role
- Head of the party's core committee (appointed August 2023)
- G T Devegowda's Replacement
- M Krishna Reddy (former Deputy Speaker)
- Key Family Appointments
- Nikhil Kumaraswamy (Political Affairs Committee member), Suraj Revanna (Campaign Committee member)
- G T Devegowda's MLA Constituency
- Chamundeshwari, Mysuru