The Janata Dal (Secular), which is most likely to retain Mandya Lok Sabha constituency in the byelections, has nominated two-time MLA L.R. Shivarame Gowda. It is also likely to field its former legislator Madhu Bangarappa from Shivamogga constituency.
Mr. Gowda’s candidature comes amidst speculation over fielding a candidate from party supremo H.D. Deve Gowda’s family, while a former bureaucrat Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda had also lobbied for the party ticket.
On Sunday, as soon as it became known that Mr. Gowda was to get the party’s ‘B’ form, Ms. Lakshmi met Mr. Deve Gowda at his residence in Padmanabhanagar where she was consoled, sources said, adding that all party leaders from the district have been taken into confidence before choosing the candidate. A two-time legislator from Congress, Mr. Gowda had joined BJP and also unsuccessfully contested in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls when he was defeated by former Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, who was then with the JD(S). He runs educational institutions in Bengaluru.
Incidentally, Mr. Gowda, who along with another former Congress legislator K. Suresh Babu — both from Nagamangala in Mandya district — had been promised ticket in polls by the party leaders when they joined JD(S) in April 2017. While Mr. Babu has been elected as legislator from Nagamangala, Mr. Gowda has got the party’s ticket from Mandya.
The decision to field Mr. Gowda has left party leaders in Mandya surprised. This may prove costly to the party in Nagamangala, Maddur and K.R. Pet as Ms. Lakshmi has her own established network of workers, say senior JD(S) leaders in Nagamangala.
Ms. Lakshmi told The Hindu that she was unable to digest this development and needed some time to come out of the shock. “I have a clean image. I have not decided yet about the future course of action,” she said.
Shivamogga seat
Meanwhile, with Congress, which was in the process of identifying a candidate for Shivamogga, letting the constituency in favour of JD(S), Mr. Madhu is in all likelihood be the coalition candidate.
Sources in the Congress confirmed that they had let JD(S) contest in Shivamogga. Sources said that Mr. Madhu, who was touring abroad, is expected to return to Bengaluru late on Sunday. Son of former Chief Minister the late S. Bangarappa, Mr. Madhu, who was initially reluctant to contest, has been convinced now, sources said.
