JOIN USFormer prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda said on Wednesday that senior Congressman Jaffer Sharief would formally join the party after returning from Makkah.
Speaking to reporters in Tumkur, Gowda, who is also the national president of the JD(S), said that the candidature and constituency for Sharief would be finalised after he is inducted into the party. He said that the core committee would decide on fielding his son H D Kumaraswamy in the Lok Sabha elections. But, he lost his cool and refused to comment when asked whether former minister Revanna’s wife Bhavani would be fielded from Mandya constituency.
He said that the national parties have failed to protect the interests of Karnataka and both the National Democratic Alliance and the United Progressive Alliance were “controlled” by Tamil Nadu-based political parties such as the AIADMK and the DMK.
Meanwhile, addressing a press meet in Mysore, JD(S) legislator G T Deve Gowda said that the candidature of Sharief from Mysore-Kodagu constituency was “99 per cent certain.” He said Sharief will file his nomination papers soon after his return from Makkah.
However, he added that KR Nagar MLA Sa Ra Mahesh will be the second option for the seat.
Gowda said that Sharief is a close associate of the leaders of the Third Front and the JD(S) had selected him as its candidate given his tremendous political experience. He accused the Congress of insulting Sharief by denying him a ticket.