Kumaraswamy may revolt against Gowda

JD(S) state head and former CM adamant on contesting from Channapatna, while father and party chief Deve Gowda is opposing his decision tooth and nail

Kumaraswamy may revolt against Gowda

JD(S) state head and former CM adamant on contesting from Channapatna, while father and party chief Deve Gowda is opposing his decision tooth and nail

Politics in the Gowda household turned murkier yesterday with H D Kumaraswamy adamant on contesting from Channapatna, while father H D Deve Gowda opposing his decision tooth and nail. Kumaraswamy went to the extent of saying that his followers are threatening to immolate themselves if he turns down their request of being the party candidate in the by-polls from Channapatna. "Being a leader, I can't hurt their sentiments. I will convince my father and enter the fray," he said.

Time out: Kumaraswamy is yet to convince Deve Gowda and time is
running out, as tomorrow is the final day for filing nominations. File pic

Gowda was in Delhi when the party office witnessed dramatic scenes, wherein party workers were vocally aggressive in pressing Kumaraswamy to be a candidate. He said, concealing anguish, "It is not the first time that Kumaraswamy is defying me. He joined hands with the BJP in 2006 to form a coalition government despite my disapproval. I will not be surprised if he does something similar. Anyhow, he is a senior leader and is free to take individual decisions."

Political divide
Kumaraswamy was an MLA from Ramanagar and he resigned to enter Lok Sabha from Bangalore (Rural). Now, he is contemplating reentering the assembly from adjoining constituency, Channapatna. As MiD DAY had reported, internal politics in the Gowda family is preventing him from contesting from the constituency.

Gowda is considered an iconic leader of the Vokkaliga community and his party has a strong hold in southern parts of Karnataka, especially in the districts of Hasan, Mandya, Ramanagar and Bangalore (Rural). As an un-written understanding within the family, these territories are shared between the politician brothers Kumaraswamy and H D Revanna.

Revanna, a legislator representing Hasan, is given in-charge of Hasan and Mandya, and Ramanagar, and Bangalore (Rural) is Kumaraswamy's territory. According to family understanding, one must not overstep the other's territory.

Channapatna falls in Ramanagar limits and Kumaraswamy wanted to field one of his men there. However, Revanna wanted to field his wife Bhavani, who has been nursing ambitions of becoming a legislator.

This is fueling a bitter divide in the family and to spoil Bhavani's chances, Kumaraswamy decided to enter the fray, while shifting his wife from Madhugiri to Channapatna was another option.

Not acceptable
Gowda, in a bid to resolve the crisis, proposed eldest son, H D Balakrishne Gowda's name for candidature, while K R Nagar, a Vokkaliga dominated constituency in Mandya district, would be the gift to Bhavani.

Instead of bringing about a solution to the problem, the formula further irked Kumaraswamy, and the party office in Bangalore saw some stormy scenes yesterday evening. Even as Kumaraswamy announced that he is stepping back from contesting from Channapatna owing to his father's advice, party workers created a ruckus urging him to rethink. Ultimately, Kumaraswamy said he would be contesting as he didn't want to hurt the sentiments of his followers.

However, he is yet to convince Deve Gowda and time is running out, as tomorrow is the final day for filing nominations. A source in the party said Kumaraswamy has delegated the task of convincing his father, to his lieutenant Chaluvaraya Swamy, MP from Mandya. Chaluvaraya is expected to meet Gowda in Delhi tomorrow.

Invective galore
After a series of attempts to destabilise the Yeddyurappa government, Kumaraswamy was so frustrated yesterday that he failed to keep his words in check while attacking the CM, during a press conference.

When Yeddyurappa accused the Gowda family of indulging in corrupt practices, Kumaraswamy retaliated saying, "Yeddyurappa is an unworthy person."

Reacting to the allegations made by Kumaraswamy, Yeddyurappa said, "Kumaraswamy had no control on his tongue." Kumaraswamy replied saying, "Yeddyurappa is a drunkard and his disoriented talks indicate that he is not in his senses."

When reporters reminded him of the fact that Yeddyurappa was a teetotaler, Kumaraswamy said, "I know he was a teetotaler. But, now I doubt it and think he has started boozing." At one point, he called Yeddyurappa a stray dog that not only barks, but bites small kids.

Kumaraswamy to face unnamedu00a0 opponent
While it is not yet certain whether Kumaraswamy will be contesting from Channapatna, Congress has fielded a dummy candidate who has been living in the US.

Raghunandan Ramanna, is projected to be the party candidate though it is alleged that he was abroad and his name is not even included in the voters' list.

While this might come in the way of his candidature, Congress leaders are planning to approach the election commission with a request to include his name. They are also planning to complain to the commission that the authorities deleted his name.