Manju declares himself Arkalgud JD(S) candidate

NT Correspondent

Hassan: Friction within Hassan JD(S) surfaced yet once again as former minister A Manju on Tuesday declared himself the party candidate from Arkalgud constituency in the upcoming Assembly elections.

The political equation in the district has started to resemble a soap opera as Arkalgud constituency is already represented by rebel JD(S) MLA AT Ramaswamy who has publicly hinted at a falling out between him and HD Deve Gowda’s son and Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna.

Manju, on the other hand, had contested the Arakalgud seat on a Congress ticket and finished second in the 2018 elections. Manju made the announcement in Hanyal village of Hassan district’s Arkalgud taluk during a meeting, taking an oath alongside his supporters that he would join the JD(S). “From now on, it is our responsibility to join the party and ensure that I win,” said Manju.

The former minister added that he would come down to Bengaluru and “seek the blessings” of the Gowda family members over his candidacy from the constituency. Meanwhile, there is no clarity in the party over the Hassan candidacy, which is being sought by both HD Revanna’s wife Bhavani Revanna and late JD(S) former MLA HS Prakash’s son HP Swaroop.

Kumaraswamy on his part maintained that he would field an “ordinary party worker” from Hassan to oust BJP MLA Preethma Gowda. Cong prez and fellow Vokkaliga DK Shivakumar has further complicated matters by admitting in public that he has held talks with Manju, Ramaswamy and Swaroop and JD(S) MLAs from Kolar constituency