JD(S) national president H. D. Deve Gowda has said that he has advised his son and the former Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, to contest only from Ramanagaram Assembly constituency.
Addressing presspersons here on Sunday, Mr. Gowda said though his son was being urged by the people of north Karnataka to contest from a constituency of his choice, he has advised him to contest only from Ramanagaram. “If Mr. Kumaraswamy contests from any other constituency, it will give a wrong signal to the people of Ramanagaram, who will feel that they have been ditched by him,” Mr. Gowda said.
About seven JD (S) rebels making efforts to join the Congress, Mr. Gowda said they will will be taught a lesson by the people of their respective constituency. On his grandson, Prajwal Revanna, contesting the elections, Mr. Gowda made it clear that he would not contest the polls this time. “He is still young ... What is the hurry? Let him wait for some more time,” he said.
Mr. Gowda said the recent visits to Bengaluru by BJP national president Amit Shah and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi would not have any impact on the JD(S).
“We are doing our job of strengthening the party. The party might have committed some mistakes in galvanising people. However, we will correct the mistakes and prepare for the elections,” he said. When asked about the ongoing controversy over granting separate religion status for the Lingayats, Mr. Gowda chose to stay away from the issue saying that politicians should not get involved in such sensitive issues.
“It should be left to the seers who are learned and well-informed about the religious aspects. They should arrive at a consensus instead of politicians poking their nose,” he said. Basavaraj Horatti, MLC, T. A. Sharavana, MLC, district president of the party M. C. Managuli, and others were present.
