Former CM Kumaraswamy may fight from Channapatna: JD(S) patriarch

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

S coffing at reports that for mer CM H.D. Kumaraswamy would contest from Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency in the 2023 elections, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda sought to know why his son must contest from a constituency other than Channapatna or Ramanagar when he became CM after winning from Channapatna.

“Ultimately it is God who will decide from where Kumaraswamy will contest in the Assembly polls”, Deve Gowda told the media here on Monday.

The former PM said the JD(S) was a bit weak in Dakshina Kannada district because of which organisational work has begun to strengthen the party. Already, Pancharatna and Jaladhare programmes have been conducted successfully. A decision had been taken to tour at least two districts in a month. The JD(S) has a strong presence in many districts but had not been able to keep the party units active.

Party MLC B.M. Farooq is actively organising the JD(S) in Dakshina Kannada district. Setting a 123-seat target for the 2023 Assembly polls is not sufficient and party workers need to work to achieve the number. Former JD(S) President Kumaraswamy has been holding meetings of workers in many districts to boost the morale of everyone, Deve Gowda said. Asked about the absence of two party MLAs, Shivalinge Gowda and A.T. Ramaswamy at the Hassan function, Deve Gowda said they had taken prior permission and had expressed their inability to attend. Both MLAs are in the JD(S) and will not go to any other party. “I appeal to all those who want to quit the JD(S) not to take any hasty decision and work unitedly.”

On Congress MLC C.M. Ibrahim’s chances of joining the JD(S), the former PM said the party had a state president, H.K. Kumaraswmy who had been winning from Sakleshpur for six consecutive times. “Is it possible to ask him to step down? This was conveyed to Ibrahim. But I have promised to consider his name at the time of election to the party president’s post”.

On Nikhil Kumaraswamy contesting the 2023 Assembly polls, Deve Gowda said Nikhil has been involved in Kannada films and is also the president of the JD(S) youth unit. Ultimately, Kumaraswamy will decide whether Nikhil should continue in films or plunge into politics by contesting the coming Assembly polls.

Asked about the uniform dress code row, the former PM opined that the whole episode would have been sorted out had the state government intervened in the initial stages. This should have been done by both national parties. “I am not going to comment now as the High Court is seized of the matter.‘‘