In the changing political scenario in Karnataka, the Janata Dal (Secular) of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda is expected to play a kingmaker’s role in the ensuing Assembly polls in 2018. For this the party will hop on a custom-built luxury coach for its star campaigner and State president HD Kumaraswamy who is going to start his campaign from November.
The luxury caravan worth a crore has in-built facilities like, a room, kitchen and toilet facility for Kumaraswamy who is going to start his election tour across the State. Kumaraswamy, former Chief Minister and an aspirant to the hot seat, had underwent a heart surgery recently is bogged down by internal dissents. Fifty-seven-year-old Kumaraswamy who played a crucial role in the Karnataka politics for the past decade is putting all his energy in anticipation to play a major role in ensuing Assembly polls which is crucial for both the Congress and the BJP.
As part of his campaign he will have grama vastavya or village stay to cover many villages across 224 Assembly constituencies. “I will visit 20 villages every day. The custom-made bus will cater to all my needs — I can bath, eat, hold meetings and even sleep in it,” Kumaraswamy said .
But it is not only Kumaraswamy that the bus will accommodate during the campaign trail, but his personal yoga instructor, a doctor and cook as well.
According to party sources the bus is a gift by the party’s minority cell president Syed Altaf .
The luxury coach built on the Ashok leyland bus chassis has cost about Rs 1 crore. It also has a podium with a hydraulic lift, fitted with a modern public address system, to enable Kumaraswamy to address public meetings.
The bus is being readied by a private company specialising in customised buses in Karur, Tamil Nadu. With his ultra modern poll rath Kumaraswamy is testing his political future in the State.
The bus with party’s green and white colour body, has the best air suspension to ensure his hectic campaign schedules ahead would not affect his health. Earlier also he had used a specially designed Toyota Commuter for his poll campaign.