G T Devegowda approaches H D Deve Gowda, Mysuru leaders say ‘no problem’

Mysuru: Even as the ‘Janarondige Janatadala’ campaign is scheduled to be held in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency on Sunday (May 17), with Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy expected to attend it, there is some development in the Mysuru district JD(S).

The event, the valedictory of the campaign, is scheduled to be held in front of Sri Nagalingeshwara Bogeshwara Temple, near Ring Road, Bogadi, in Mysuru.

Senior JD(S) leader, Chamundeshwari MLA and former minister G T Devegowda met former prime minister and party supremo H D Deve Gowda, at Bengaluru on Friday, in the wake of the latter’s 93rd birthday (May 18). Speaking to media persons, in Mysuru, on Saturday, former minister and JD(S) working president Sa Ra Mahesh said, he has no problem, if the party national leaders accept Devegowda.

Exclusion

It can be recalled that ‘Janarondige Janatadala’ started in Mysuru district on February 18 and there was no photo of Devegowda in the publicity materials, including the banner used during the press meet held on February 16, to announce the schedule of the ‘Janarondige Janatadala’ campaign.

However, Devegowda’s son and Hunsur MLA G D Harish Gowda has been actively participating in the events held across the district.

It may be noted that earlier, on February 8, Kumaraswamy, also JD(S) state president publicly disowned Devegowda during a media interaction in Mysuru. Kumaraswamy said Devegowda is not with the party and thus the media should not ask any questions on him.

Detachment

Devegowda has been detached from the JD(S) and its leaders since the formation of Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress coalition government in May, 2018, because Sa Ra Mahesh was preferred over him to be Mysuru district incharge minister.

\But, the JD(S) patriarch family – former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, his son Kumaraswamy and grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy – had brokered peace during the elections in 2019 (Lok Sabha), 2023 (Assembly) and 2024 (Lok Sabha again) to keep him in the party fold.

Still, Devegowda has been keeping away, except for a few months when he was chairman of the party core committee. Despite this, Devegowda used to claim that he was in the JD(S) and was concentrating on his constituency work. Thus, some senior leaders had been openly saying that they were searching for an alternative candidate to represent the JD(S) in Chamundeshwari constituency. However, contemporaries Nikhil and Harish are close since the 2018 Assembly polls.

Courtesy

During his visit on Friday, Devegowda offered the ex-PM ‘prasada’ brought from a special puja performed at Sri Mahalakshmi Temple in Bengaluru. Speaking to media persons, Devegowda said that no politics was discussed. “The party patriarch knows my loyalty and honesty. I have not been invited to join the party's organisational work yet. When the time comes and I am invited, I will make a decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sa Ra Mahesh stated that the local leaders would have no objection, if Devegowda rectifies his mistakes and chooses to remain in the JD(S).

Unhappy

However, Mahesh said that Devegowda has caused a massive loss to the party over the last few years. “He alters his stance during every election, and his unpredictable decisions have deeply shocked the grassroots party workers. No individual is bigger than the party. The JD(S) requires loyal workers rather than leaders who compromise their allegiance,” he noted.

A senior JD(S) leader said, Devegowda is in two minds and he could not restrain, when the party is holding a mega event under his own segment limits on Sunday. Even Deve Gowda is not in a position to refuse Devegowda, as the latter stood behind him even when the former was not in power, he said.