G.T. Deve Gowda, Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Chamundeshwari MLA, on Friday scotched rumours that of him joining the Congress and lashed out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his failure to develop his constituency of Mysuru. His outburst is seen in the context of Mr. Siddaramaiah hinting that he may contest the 2018 elections from Chamundeshwari constituency.
Mr. Gowda, who says he is a natural leader of Hunsur and represented the constituency in 2004, was keen that his son Harish Gowda be fielded from there. But there are indications that the JD(S) may prefer former MP A.H. Vishwanath who recently quit the Congress to join the JD(S). While this has peeved him, reports that the CM may contest from Chamundeshwari have rattled him. Hence, there are speculations that there was no ‘safe constituency’ for Mr. Gowda so he may even join the Congress. However, observers say Mr. Gowda is no pushover either given the presence of Vokkaligas – a community he hails from – in Chamundeshwari and hence efforts were on by Congress to woo him.
Addressing a press conference, Mr.Gowda refuted any suggestions of quitting JD(S) to join the Congress and said, “There is no question of either me or any of JD(S) workers joining the Congress nor is there any basis to these rumours.” He clarified that there was no official communiqué either from the Congress camp but there were rumours of his impending exit from the JD(S), a speculation he wanted to rebut.
“I will contest against Mr. Siddaramaiah from the Chamundeshwari constituency in the next Assembly elections. If there is anyone who can stand up to Mr. Siddaramaiah it is G.T. Deve Gowda and I have taken up the challenge,” he added.
“Chamundeshwari is my karma bhoomi and people are waiting to teach Mr. Siddaramaiah a lesson if he returns from Varuna,” said Mr. Gowda, who was forced to shift his constituency from Hunsur to Chamundeshwari in the 2013 elections.
Mr. Gowda averred that the JD(S) was fully geared to tackle the Congress. “We are confident of putting up a stiff challenge for the Congress in 8 to 9 of the 11 constituencies in the district which is a JD(S) fortress,” he added.
