Change is brewing in the first family of the JD(S), and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda is planning to launch grandson Prajwal as the party’s youth wing president.
Prajwal, a 23-year-old mechanical engineer and former minister H D Revanna’s son, told Express, “Yes, it is there in his scheme of things.”
No one is surprised that Deve Gowda, who has promoted two sons in politics — former minister Revanna and former CM H D Kumaraswamy — should elevate his grandson, but the pace of Prajwal’s ambition has, sources say, upset his uncle Kumaraswamy.
Deve Gowda regularly spends time with Prajwal, tutoring him on the finer aspects of power politics.
“It is not like a formal tutoring or anything like that,” Prajwal says. “Whenever I get the time, I go to him and see what he does and how he handles people.”
Deve Gowda is convinced, a close associate says, that no one has grasped the dynamics of Hassan politics like Prajwal. “He has a special interest in me and always took me out. Even when he was the PM, I was with him. May be this is my destiny," says Prajwal.
Prajwal has been involved in party affairs in Hassan for a year and but is yet to sign up formally as a member. He is busy setting up a group of volunteers called the JD(S) Development Wing. This group, however, is yet to get Deve Gowda’s approval.
Contrary to reports that Kumaraswamy is sulking at Prajwal’s promotion, the former chief minister says he is happy. “My son Nikhil is focused on his business. He hasn’t shown much inclination to join politics,” Kumaraswamy told Express, dismissing reports that the family was divided on Prajwal’s rise. “All I can advise Prajwal is: take everyone into confidence and move forward,” he says. Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil, once seen as the natural successor to his father, is in the real estate business.
Nikhil handled the campaign for his mother Anitha Kumaraswamy in the assembly elections from Channapattana, and was seen with his father at the party office on some occasions. The buzz in party circles was that he would be the next young face of the JD(S).
Ask Prajwal what qualities of his grandfather he likes, and pat comes the reply: “He depends on ordinary people and not just politicians. His patience is enormous, and his ability to make political predictions is accurate.”
The most important lesson he has learned from Gowda is never to lose touch with the people. “It is not just about handling MLAs and party leaders. If you have to be the face of the party, you have to be with the people. People is power, not money.” Prajwal, who wanted to be in business, believes if a leader enjoys people’s support, MLAs and other leaders toe the line.
Prajwal jumped into politics while appearing for his final semester BE exams in early 2013, just before the Assembly polls.
“I started mobilising youths, then came in contact with loyal party workers who were sidelined by local leaders and legislators. I tried to rebuild their confidence and took them to meet my grandfather. They were happy that someone from the family was in touch with them,” he explains.
Some people said Prajwal was taking on established leaders in Hassan. “No. I just gave my feedback to Deve Gowda,” he says.
Deve Gowda has told Prajwal to focus on national politics. “He does not want me in state politics. He thinks my language is good, and advises me to watch national news channels and read English newspapers. He says this is his last election, and wants me to contest the next Lok Sabha election from Hassan,” Prajwal says.
On why his mother Bhavani was not given a ticket, Prajwal says, “Deve Gowda is a man of his word. He said none from his family would contest. Uncle’s decision to contest from Chikaballapur is his own. None in the family is interested”.
Development Wing Planned
Prajwal plans to create a dedicated cadre of young and experienced party volunteers for a development wing. “Already over 1.62 lakh members are registered in the Old Mysore region,” he says, adding that he plans to launch this wing when he officially joins the party in about three months from now. “I want to create these wings in at least half of all districts in Karnataka and invite Deve Gowda to the launch,” Prajwal says.
Prajwal says the JD(S) is being seen as a Vokkaliga party: “We need to become inclusive in our approach. Only then can we come to power on our own.”
