Daijiworld Media Network – Tumakuru (MS)

Tumakuru, Mar 23: JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has given his traditional constituency of Hassan to his grandson Prajwal Revanna and declared that he would be contesting from the Lok Sabha constituency of Tumakuru. However, now there is more trouble for Deve Gowda as sitting MP of Congress Muddahanumegowda has decided to contest as either a Congress candidate or as an independent from Tumakuru.

Muddahanumegowda said he has decided to file his nomination on Monday, March 25, the same day as the filing of nomination by Deve Gowda. There is talk within the JD(S) circles that Deve Gowda has taken a huge risk by giving up his traditional seat of Hassan to his grandson Prajwal.

"Though my party (Congress) conceded my constituency (Tumkur) to the JD(S) as part of the seat-sharing arrangement, I have decided to re-contest in response to the demand from thousands of my supporters and cadre," Muddahanumegowda told reporters here on Saturday March 23.

A meeting of Muddahanumegowda's supporters took place on March 23 at his farmhouse. Hundreds of his supporters, including many prominent Congress leaders of the district like Sasalu Satish, Kallalli Devraj and Chowdri Rangappa were present in the meeting, sources said.

Muddahanumegowda said, "Many hearts are beating for me. I express my gratitude to them. I have been in public life for 30 years. Ten days ago, I did not think that I would conduct a meeting of this nature. I worked as an MP till the model code of conduct came into effect. The party did not give me a single reason for giving up my seat to JD(S). Why you they (Congress) making me a scapegoat?"

He also added, "I will also file nomination on Monday as a Congress candidate from Tumakuru again even if Deve Gowda files nomination as a JD(S) candidate. In the event of my party not giving me B-form as its contestant, I will still be in the fray as an independent," an agitated Muddahanumegowda said, adding he cannot let down his supporters at any cost.

"There is still time. Give me an opportunity. If you (Congress) give me ticket, history will be made. If I do not get ticket, I will go to the court of people. I have never expected that a situation will arise wherein I have to beg for a ticket. I have never criticized anyone. I am just appealing," he said.

The workers of Congress party of Tumakuru district, who were present in the meeting urged him to contest as an independent candidate. They also raised slogans like 'we want justice'. Some admirers of Muddahanumegowda even threatened to consume poison if he does not contest.

Owing to the huge pressure from his admirers, Muddahanumegowda has decided to file nomination on Monday, March 25 at 11 am. He also declared that he and his supporters will take a procession from Town Hall Circle in the city to DC office and file the nomination as a Congress candidate.

Ironically, deputy chief minister from the Congress G Parameshwara, who hails from Tumkur district, is said to be backing Muddahanumegowda unofficially due to mounting pressure from the party's local leaders and cadres.

"I hope my party leaders and the JD(S) will understand the pulse of the voters and allow me to re-contest from Tumkur and re-allocate another parliamentary seat to the JD(S)," said an emotional Muddahanumegowda.

With 9 wins in the 2014 parliamentary polls from the state, the Congress had the largest number of Lok Sabha members from Karnataka, accounting for 21 per cent of the 44 seats it won from across the country though lowest ever since the first general elections way back in 1951-52. The BJP won 17 and JD(S) only 2 in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the state.

Earlier in the evening, JD(S) spokesman Ramesh Babu said in a statement that former prime minister Deve Gowda would file his nomination on March 25 at the deputy commissioner's office at Tumkur as a joint candidate of the JD(S)-Congress alliance.

The 85-year-old Gowda has shifted his parliamentary constituency from Hassan, about 180km from here, after representing it for a record six times since 1991 to pave way for his grandson Prajwal to contest in his place for the first time.

Prajwal, the only son of Deve Gowda's second son and state PWD minister H D Revanna, filed his nomination on March 22 from the Hassan parliamentary seat, which is the traditional bastion of the Gowda clan.

With IANS Inputs