New Delhi: H D Kumaraswamy, the third son of Karnataka's most famous farmer-politician H D Deve Gowda, today dons the mantle of being his successor.
His rise to this position has been almost dramatic after repeated setbacks in the political field.
Just like his father, Kumaraswamy too has a liking for astrology. And if he does become the Chief Minister of Karnataka, he will probably be thanking his stars for that.
Kumaraswamy's field of interest was never the farmlands, though. His eyes were always set on the silver screen. Forty-six-year-old Kumaraswamy had built a successful career in films before he entered politics.
He pipped his elder brother H D Revanna, a minister in the Dharam Singh cabinet, to the post. But the road to success was not always smooth for Kumaraswamy.
In 1996, he won the Kanakapura seat in rural Bangalore to enter Lok Sabha. The same year his father became the Prime Minister.
Two years later, he sought re-election, but lost. Then he changed constituencies. He tried his luck from Sathanur Assembly seat in 1999 but lost there too.
Finally in 2004, he entered the state Assembly from the Ramanagaram constituency.
Kumaraswamy, however, lost out on a ministerial berth. As it happens, that may have turned out to be a blessing. He was aware of the growing discontent within the coalition.
As the working President of Janata Dal (Secular), he took major decisions in defining the role of his party. He targeted Chief Minister Dharam Singh in particular, be it the reshuffling of the State committees or Cabinet expansion.
Kumaraswamy's frequently set deadlines for the government and threatened to pull out in case they were not met.
During the past 19 months his deadlines had become a regular embarrassment for the government and at times even surprised his father with brinksmanship.
But his gambles seem to be paying off. Kumaraswamy, the son who managed his father's political affairs, may soon be managing the affairs of Karnataka.
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