The Janata Dal (Secular) is facing major embarrassment with the former Speaker Krishna deciding to contest as an Independent candidate from K.R. Pet Assembly constituency, after party denied him ticket.
The JD(S) has decided to field Narayana Gowda, a wealthy garment factory owner, from K.R. Pet constituency, where Mr. Krishna won in 2004 elections and was subsequently elected as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Though many prominent leaders deserted the party when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wave swept the State in 2008 Assembly elections and JD(S) was in the dock following failure to transfer power to the BJP, Mr. Krishna stood by the party. He was identified as the party’s ideologue and one of the people associated with value-based politics. .
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Krishna confirmed that he would contest as an Independent, as the party which he had supported all along “ditched him”. Ramesh Babu, official spokesperson of JD(S) said Mr. Krishna “enjoyed power” as party leader for nearly three decades. As there were more aspirants this time, the party had appealed to him to make a “sacrifice”.
