It’s perhaps for the first time that the superstitious Gowda siblings of the JD(S) have made up their mind to prove their astrologers wrong.

Both former CM H D Kumaraswamy and his brother H D Revanna are contesting against women as their principal rival candidates - Mamata Nichani in Ramanagar and Anupama in Holenarasipura - much against the advice of their astrologers.

No final word

Speculation was rife on Wednesday, that Kumaraswamy would take no chances, and file his nominations from the neighbouring Channapatna as well. Revanna, in fact, had given up hopes of winning on his home turf, Holenarasipura, on learning that the Congress was pitting a woman against him. He is even said to have started looking for a new constituency. There is no final word from the Gowdas on whether Kumaraswamy will contest from one more constituency. He still has time to file nomination papers for the second and third phase of polling.

The astrologers of Gowda family (it is an open secret that the Gowdas consult their astrologers before making every political move) had warned that they would face defeat against women in the polls. They had cited JD(S) patriarch Deve Gowda’s humiliating defeat against Tejaswini Ramesh of the Congress, from Kanakapura, in the 2004 general elections.

Gowda lost out to Tejaswini, a journalist-turned-politician, by a margin of one lakh votes. A miffed Gowda, after ascertaining the reason for his defeat from astrologers, decided to not to face women in the electoral battle.

Knowing fully well of the Gowdas' weakness for superstitious beliefs, the Congress had hatched a plot to force the siblings out of their home turf by fielding women against them. “It is also planned to keep the brothers on tenterhooks, so that they spend much of their time in their constituency than campaigning across the State for their party,” sources said.

Influence, sympathy

Moreover, both women candidates fielded by the Congress wield much influence and sympathy, a fact that is sure to give the siblings some sleepless nights.

Anupama is a widow, and daughter-in-law of Deve Gowda’s one-time arch-rival and former minister late Puttaswamy Gowda. She also belongs to the Vokkaliga community. These factors may prove to be fatal if things go wrong for Revanna in Holenarasipura. Similarly, Mamata Nichani is a daughter of former CM and one-time rival of Gowda - the late Ramakrishna Hegde.

Though Gowda himself has advised his sons to reconsider contesting against women, sources said that the siblings have now plucked up courage to face the fairer sex, and decided not to allow the opposition parties to take them for a ride.