Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru (SP)
Mysuru, Jul 7: Addressing a gathering of JD(S) workers at Hunsur in the district on Thursday July 6, grandson of H D Deve Gowda, Prajwal Revanna, who is a ticket aspirant for next assembly election, criticized top leadership of his own party by commenting that people backed by wealth get front seat in JD(S), while those who are loyal to the party are assigned back seats.
With this, family squabble within the family of H D Deve Gowda has spilled into the open. It is being analyzed that Prajwal, who had started groundwork to contest from this constituency in next year's election, is frustrated at the decision of the party to field H Vishwanath, who recently crossed over from Congress.
The timing of the outburst seems interesting as the family of Deve Gowda, which had announced earlier that the leadership has decided to allot only two tickets to the family members of JD(S) supremo, later relented and agreed to field two more, Anita and Prajwal. However, on Wednesday Anita Kumaraswamy suddenly announced at Channapatna that she will be the party candidate from Channapatna for the assembly election. This seems to have earned the wrath of Prajwal, who is being asked to contest from a constituency in Bengaluru or elsewhere, whereas the other three, Kumaraswamy, his wife, Anita, and Revanna, are being given the constituencies of their choice. He said that he has been touring Hunsur constituency since the last several years to strengthen the party as he wanted to fight election from here. "I understand that those who tread the path of righteousness encounter more stones and thorns," he said.
Prajwal recalled a popular Kannada adage which says that mountains look smooth from a distance. "Stones and thorns become visible only when we are close to the mountains. I have personally experienced this fact. I worship my grandfather, H D Deve Gowda, from the depths of my heart. But it is possible that he might not wish to allow Prajwal to grow politically," he stated.
Prajwal, a young and emerging leader, and son of former minister, H D Revanna, was speaking after inaugurating awareness convention organized by his party at Hunsur. "It is true that I had aspired for assembly ticket from Hunsur. But I will be committed to the decision the party might take even if it means sacrifices on my part," he clarified. He observed that the party is often seen keeping its legs in two boats with an intention to keep its relationships with both BJP and Congress intact.
He called upon the people to work unitedly to strengthen the party that was founded by his grandfather, H D Deve Gowda, adding that the purpose of his state tour with the support of dedicated party workers is aimed at making his paternal uncle, H D Kumaraswamy, the next chief minister of Karnataka.
As soon as media picked up his words and the news of his comments spread, Prajwal hastened to clarify that he had never spoken objectionable words about party or its leaders at the meeting at Hunsur. He stated that what he meant was that everyone should abide by decisions taken by Deve Gowda and that they should work for the success of the party irrespective of who gets the ticket.