TUMAKURU:For JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda, it was a sense of nostalgia at Siddaganga mutt where he launched ‘Manemanege Kumaranna’ campaign on Wednesday.The election campaign of the JD(S), aimed at making party state president H D Kumaraswamy (Manemanege Kumaranna means Kumaraswamy to every home) was launched with the blessings of centenarian seer Shivakumara Swamiji. Ironically, Kumaraswamy did not participate in the event as he was resting after undergoing a surgery.
The JD(S) president took part in a ‘homa’ at Siddalingeshwara temple atop the hillock as advised by junior pontiff Siddalinga Swamiji, before launching the campaign on the premises of the mutt.
He said divine help and blessings of religious heads is necessary for a regional party like the JD(S) to take on national parties.“I had realised the divine power long time back. I had brought Veerendra Patil to the mutt way back in 1968 and he became the chief minister”, Gowda said going down the memory lane.
The former Prime Minister also slammed his political adversaries like Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa and a few MLAs who deserted the JD(S).
“Siddaramaiah has turned egoistic denigrating the JD(S) as he enjoys power and money.Yeddyurappa had once come to me seeking to join the JD(S) for the post of a minister”, the Hassan MP claimed.
On rebel JD(S) MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan, Gowda said if he were not fielded in the Chamarajpet assembly constituency vacated by former chief minister S M Krishna, he (Zameer) would have been nothing in politics”.
“I aggressively campaigned even in slums and begged for votes. Now, he has been talking about finishing off the JD(S). The people will teach him a lesson,’’ he said.
He said the campaigns highlighting the achievements of the JD(S) will be carried out in all the 224 assembly constituencies of the state.