Even before the coordination committee of the Janata Dal (Secular)–Congress coalition has finalised seat sharing between the two parties for the Lok Sabha elections, Minister S.R. Mahesh on Sunday announced that Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, would contest from Mandya as the JD(S) candidate.
Mr. Nikhil would plunge into electoral politics from Mandya as the party had decided to field him, Mr. Mahesh told reporters in K.R. Nagar.
The JD(S) would also contest the Mysuru seat with the support of the Congress, Mr. Mahesh said.
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JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda said in Mangaluru on Sunday that his grandson Mr. Nikhil “is an aspirant” for contesting from Mandya. He also hinted that his another grandson Prajwal Revanna would contest from Hassan.
He said JD(S) workers and leaders want Mr. Prajwal Revanna to contest from Hassan. When Mr. Nikhil expressed his desire to contest from Mandya, “I gave my consent,” he said.
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He said Hassan and Mandya have traditionally been the JD(S) belt. “In this background, I don’t think finalising the two seats will become a problem,” he said.
Mr. Gowda said he gave his consent for his grandsons to enter politics because they were actively involved in campaigning during the last zilla panchayat and Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kumaraswamy said in Shivamogga that if his son contests the Lok Sabha election, it would be from Mandya.
Voters of Mandya, where the JD(S) enjoys a strong support base, want a person from the family of Mr. Gowda to contest the election to ensure comprehensive development of the district, he told reporters.
Without naming actor Sumalatha, who is keen on contesting from Mandya on Congress ticket, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, “Some persons are now trying to strike an emotional chord with the people of Mandya and I know about their contribution to the district. There is no question of the JD(S) fleeing from Mandya by fearing any person.”.
He said it was true that voters of Mysuru too had requested Mr. Nikhil to contest from that constituency. However, if he is fielded for the parliamentary election, it would be from Mandya. The JD(S) does not worry about results. As the party had a strong base in Mandya, it would field its candidate there, he added.