HASSAN: Rumblings within the JD(S) first family came to the fore on Monday when Bhavani Revanna announced that her son Prajwal will contest the assembly election. The announcement, coming just a day before the launch of JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy’s ‘Karnataka Vikasa Yatra’ has added a new dimension to the rumblings as Kumaraswamy and patriarch H D Deve Gowda had consistently asserted that Prajwal would not contest the assembly election.
The two leaders had also asserted that only two members of the family--Kumaraswamy and H D Revanna--would contest the election. Stumping them, Bhavani, Revanna’s wife, added: “Party supremo Deve Gowda has given his approval for the proposal.”Speaking to reporters at Haradanahalli, Gowda’s native village, after the family, including Gowda and Kumaraswamy, performed a special puja at the Shiva Temple, Bhavani said, “Prajwal is keen to contest from Beluru or Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency. However, Deve Gowda will decide the constituency. Prajwal will accept whatever the top leadership decides.”
But Bhavani’s announcement has apparently not gone down well with Kumaraswamy and it was evident when he was asked about it immediately after she made the statement. “Everyone is interested in contesting the elections and it is natural for Prajwal too to aspire to contest. However, the party Core Committee will decide whether to field him or not.”
When asked about Bhavani’s statement that Gowda had given his green signal for Prajwal to contest, Kumaraswamy refused to react and just said, “if he(Gowda) has agreed, then go and ask him(Gowda).”
Gowda’s family seeks divine blessings ahead of polls
Hassan: JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s family performed Shatarudra homa at Deshweshwara temple at Haradanahalli in Holenarasipur taluk on Monday. A group of 11 priests led by Ramachandra Bhat from Sirsi performed the homa to the family deity of the Gowdas, praying for the success of ‘Vikasa Yatre’ led by former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. Deve Gowda and family members - wife Channamma, sons Kumaraswamy and H D Revanna, Revanna’s wife Bhavani and their first son Suraj Revanna - took part in the homa for three hours. Sources said the priests also performed special poojas to Ganesha, Anjaneya, Deshweshwara and Lakshminarasimha in the name of the family members of Gowda. Later, Gowda’s family performed pooja at Ranganatha Swamy temple in Mavinakere hill shrine near Halekote. Interestingly, Prajwal, the second son of Revanna, stayed away from the poojas.
Kumaraswamy told reporters that his second innings in state politics will begin from Chamundeshwari assembly constituency where he will launch Vikas Yatre on Tuesday. He said people will teach Congress a lesson in 2018 Assembly elections. The question of a coalition government will not arise as the JD(S) will emerge victorious in the upcoming elections, he claimed. Some Congress and BJP leaders may join the JD(S) “before and after” the assembly elections, he said.
Will remain in active politics till death: Deve GowdaJD(S) president H D Deve Gowda on Monday said he will remain in active politics till his last breath. Speaking to the reporters at Mavinakere hillock in Holenarasipur, he said his aim is to bring JD(S) to power on its own. He said he will inaugurate the Vikas Yatra of the party at Chamundeshwari assembly constituency where a public rally is organised on Tuesday and address important rallies in North Karnataka. Gowda said his son H D Kumaraswamy will contest the 2018 elections from Ramanagara constituency though party workers asked him to contest from North Karnataka.