BENGALURU: Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s plan to contest from two seats, one each in northern and southern Karnataka, has not found favour with party supremo H D Deve Gowda. Kumaraswamy is likely to continue his tryst with Ramanagar constituency in the next assembly election too.
“Kumaraswamy himself will take the final call on his plans to contest from a seat in northern Karnataka, apart from a seat in southern Karnataka. However, I have suggested to him to enter the fray from just one seat, ideally from southern Karnataka,” Deve Gowda told reporters in Vijayapura on Sunday.
As for his other son H D Revanna, the former Prime Minster said that he would contest from one of the constituencies in Hassan district. Presently, Revanna is representing Holenarasipur constituency in the district.
Replying to a question about Revanna’s son Prajwal Revanna expressing his interest to contest from any constituency in the state, including Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru, Gowda almost ruled out any such possibility. “Revanna has already conveyed the stand on this issue. Prajwal needs to work and gain more experience,” Gowda said.
He expressed the confidence of JD(S) coming to power on its own strength as he contended that a pro-Kumaraswamy public opinion is building up in the state to give him another chance. JD(S) list of candidates would be finalised by the end of September, Gowda said.
JD(S) has launched a massive mass contact programme to strengthen the party. Six teams have been formed to tour the entire state to strengthen the party. Gowda himself has hit the road addressing public rallies.
Muslims feeling insecure: Gowda
Expressing concern at the style of functioning of Modi government, Gowda concurred with former vice-president Hamid Ansari’s view that Muslims are feeling insecure in the country. Attacks on minorities in various parts of the country have spread a sense of insecurity among the Muslims. Attacks on churches are on the rise after BJP came to power at the Centre, he said.