Giving up Mandya to JD(S) may cost BJP ex-min Narayana Gowda

NT Correspondent

Mandya / Bengaluru: BJP’s decision to reportedly concede the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency to the allies JD(S) has caused friction within the party. Independent MP Sumalatha Ambareesh had won from Mandya in the 2019 general elections with BJP backing, defeating Nikhil Kumaraswamy who had contested on a JD(S) ticket with Congress support.

However, she might be sidelined in favour of a JD(S) candidate this time around.

Now, former BJP MLA from KR Pete (Mandya district) and former minister KC Narayana Gowda has publically expressed dissatisfaction with the plans to concede Mandya to the JD(S), throwing his weight behind Sumalatha instead.

He even suggested that Congress had reached out to him. Gowda, a Vokkaliga leader from the Old Mysuru heartland, had won from KR Pete on a JD(S) ticket back in 2018.

He was one of the 17 MLAs from the regional party and Congress who defected to the BJP in July 2019. He contested from KR Pet on a saffron party ticket and won.

When the BJP came to power with the poached MLAs, he among other defectors went on to be rewarded with ministers. Gowda held minor portfolios like Planning and Statistics, Sericulture, Youth Empowerment and Sports.

However, he lost his seat to JD(S) candidate HT Manju who polled more than 80,000 votes in the May Assembly elections last year.

Gowda had managed more than 38,000 votes, losing a prestige battle in the process. There is bad blood between him and his former party. It is not the first time that he has been rumoured to join the Congress.

Then minister BC Patil had suggested that Gowda would join the Congress back in March but it did not come to pass. (Sub-head) Keep faith with Sumalatha, says KCN Gowda suggested that his decision to leave or stay depended on whether Sumalatha was allowed to contest from Mandya, adding that he was “pained”.

“When they had allied with Sumalatha, Modi himself canvassed for her and she had won.

"Since she is tied to our party, we should think about her. She is one of us. What about her? They’re saying they haven’t made a decision yet. Let them give the ticket to Sumalatha. We’ll work hard and ensure her victory,” he said.

Gowda said that his intention was to grow the party in Mandya district, adding that conceding the seat to the JD(S) would hinder that process. He added that he hadn’t decided on whether he’d join Congress yet.

“Till now, it hasn’t been finalized. I’ve said this before. I had informed people when I was leaving the JD(S) for the BJP,” Gowda said.

“Of course, I’ve been asked to join because I’ve been an MLA thrice.

"I was a minister as well. There is a sentiment that they’ll welcome anyone. I haven’t met anyone nor made a decision. I will wait for what our (BJP) high command directs us to do. Only then, will I think over it and then make a decision,” he added.