BANGALORE: The names of Madhu Bangarappa — son of former chief minister late S Bangarappa — and Mahendra Kumar — former Bajrang Dal convenor — are doing the rounds as possible candidates of the JD(S) for the byelection to Lok Sabha from the Udupi-Chikamagalur constituency.
According to party sources, while state JD (S) chief H D Kumaraswamy is keen on fielding Madhu, the idea has not found favour with his father Deve Gowda, who is keen on fielding a Vokkaliga caste member.
While Madhu belongs to the Idiga community, Mahendra is a Vokkaliga. “Deve Gowda is opposed to Kumar because of his controversial past. Kumar’s image does not gel with the secular character of the JD(S),” a top leader confided.
By insisting on a Vokkaliga candidate, Gowda’s calculation is that the party can consolidate the community in order to win more seats in the Assembly elections. When contacted, JD(S) spokeserson Y S V Datta said: “Senior party leaders and the parliamentary board will meet soon to finalise the candidate for the bypoll.”