Gowda back in Vidhana Soudha after a gap of 20 years

After 20 years, JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda entered the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday. Gowda had stopped going to the state secretariat after he resigned as chief minister in 1996.

Gowda told reporters that he had changed his mind as the state was facing a major crisis owing to the Cauvery issue. Another reason for his change of heart was the personal invitation extended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to attend the all-party meeting. 

Siddaramaiah and Deve Gowda are known political rivals. But Siddaramaiah, who is under pressure to release water to Tamil Nadu, tried to garner support from Gowda. Setting aside his ego, Siddaramaiah went to Gowda’s house in Padmanabhanagar for the first time in 10 years. Ever since he had walked out of the JD(S), he had not visited Gowda’s house, though the duo have met elsewhere on more than one occasion. 

After an hour-long meeting with Gowda, Siddaramaiah said the two had discussed the Cauvery issue at length and that the former had given him several suggestions. He also said that he had succeeded in convincing Gowda to attend the meeting. In Siddaramaiah’s presence, Gowda also called his son H D Kumaraswamy and asked him to attend the all-party meeting.

Though all went well, Gowda is said to have got a little upset when Siddaramaiah turned down a platter of ‘plantain bajjis’ and ginger tea offered to him, citing ill-health. Gowda had got the snack and beverage prepared as they are said to be Siddaramaiah’s favourites.

Gowda had made it to Siddaramaiah’s house recently to offer condolences on the demise of Rakesh, the chief minister’s son. The Congress office stated that at the behest of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah met Deve Gowda personally and invited him to the all-party meeting.

Even Shivakumar is at loggerheads with the Gowda clan. It is said that Shivakumar, at the Cabinet meeting, suggested to Siddaramaiah to make best use of the JD(S) leader’s political experience to tide over the crisis.

Once Deve Gowda entered Vidhana Soudha, he became the point of attention. Many of his associates had turned up to catch a glimpse of him in the corridors of power.