Virtue After Power: The Farce Of JDS Moralism

In Karnataka’s political theatre, no act is more predictable — or more absurd — than the Janata Dal (Secular)’s sudden rediscovery of public virtue every time it finds itself out of power. Led by H.D. Kumaraswamy, the son of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, the party periodically surfaces to critique the ruling government, offer unsolicited advice, and warn of financial ruin — all while conveniently forgetting its own chequered past in office.

Kumaraswamy, twice Chief Minister, now claims to be deeply concerned about the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government’s fiscal discipline. But when in power, his own record was anything but austere or principled. His tenures were marked by unholy alliances, rampant nepotism, land allotments benefiting family members, and questionable use of state funds. Several public institutions were allegedly misused to serve the interests of the Gowda clan, and large stretches of public land were conveniently cleared or allocated in a manner that raised serious ethical and legal questions.

For a man who sanctioned decisions that arguably drained the public exchequer to now preach prudence is not irony — it is insult. This is a party that, despite its secular and socialist pretensions, has operated primarily as a family-controlled outfit, serving narrow caste-based interests. In power, it aligned with ideologically opposed parties simply to retain influence. Out of power, it claims to be the people’s conscience. The transition from opportunism to oratory is swift — and hollow.

The pattern is familiar. When in government, JDS leaders rarely focused on structural reforms, inclusive development, or institutional integrity. Instead, they played caste cards, distributed favors, and secured real estate. When in opposition, they reinvent themselves as defenders of democratic values and fiscal probity. The fact that such doublespeak continues to find space in public discourse is a reflection of how little accountability is demanded of regional players.

The Gowdas of Hassan — both father and sons — are not outsiders to the system they critique. They shaped it, used it, and benefited from it. For decades, they have mastered the art of symbolic politics: invoking the farmer, the Vokkaliga community, or Kannada pride — while securing private gains behind closed doors.

It’s time voters and political observers called out this charade. Karnataka deserves an opposition rooted in principle, not in performance. Criticism of government policy is welcome — but not from those who, when in power, practiced worse. The JDS is not a party of ideas; it is a party of self-preservation, speaking only to protect its waning legacy.

Unless the JDS reckons honestly with its past and redefines its future beyond the Gowda surname, its warnings and advice will continue to be seen — rightly — as farcical footnotes in a state that has moved on.