The Janata Dal (Secular), which is reorganising itself after the Lok Sabha poll debacle, on Thursday appointed K. Nikhil as the president of the party’s youth wing. His appointment comes in the absence of his father and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, currently on a private tour in the U.S.
Though Mr. Nikhil’s name was being speculated to be part of the party’s organisational set up for sometime now, his appointment on Thursday came as a surprise since the focus has been on appointing JD(S) president and working president.
Party supremo and family patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda, who announced the appointment, said he was “forced to” appoint Mr. Nikhil to the post. “I had decided to appoint Sharanagouda Kandkur. However, Mr. Kandakur was adamant that Mr. Nikhil should be appointed. I had to agree to this. Mr. Kandakur has been appointed as general secretary of the youth wing.
According to sources in the party, the decision to bring Mr. Nikhil to the post was because leaders believe that he can connect with young voters. Sources also said that Mr. Nikhil is likely to be involved in a big way in the party’s padayatra that is being planned from Nanjangud in August.