<p>Former prime minister and JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday downplayed the charge that he indulged in “dynasty politics” and stated that his sons and grandsons had entered politics following pressure from the people.</p>.<p>In an interaction organised by DH-Prajavani, Gowda said that in his career he never favoured his family members entering politics. He said H D Kumaraswamy, H D Revanna (sons), Anitha Kumaraswamy (daughter-in-law) had entered politics as people wanted them to contest elections.</p>.<p>“My son Revanna never wanted to be in politics. When I was languishing in jail during Emergency, he was in Bengaluru aspiring to be an entrepreneur. Then he decided to contest the Zilla Panchayat polls. Kumaraswamy was a film producer. Party MLAs dragged him into politics,” Gowda said.</p>.<p>On his grandsons Prajwal Revanna and Nikhil Kumaraswamy likely to be given party tickets to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Hassan and Mandya respectively, Gowda said, “Prajwal is a BE graduate and I got to know he nurtured the ambition of contesting elections (Hassan Lok Sabha constituency). I have it left for party functionaries in the constituency to take a call.”</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/liveblog/watch-live-h-d-deve-gowda-in-conversation-with-deccan-herald-721627.html" target="_blank"><strong>HIGHLIGHTS | H D Deve Gowda in conversation with Deccan Herald</strong></a></p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/no-ambition-become-prime-721670.html" target="_blank">No ambition to become Prime Minister: Deve Gowda</a></strong></p>.<p>He said Nikhil is a budding film star. When Nikhil visited a few villages, the people wanted him to contest from Mandya. “This party is not exclusive to Deve Gowda’s family. Only after consulting with my party leaders, I take a call,” Gowda said.</p>.<p>He said Kumaraswamy, Revanna and Anitha fought elections to become legislators. “They do not enter politics through the backdoor”, he said.</p>.<p>He said his other daughter-in-law Bhavani (Revanna’s wife) hails from a political background and she may have the ambition to enter politics. “But as far as I know, her ambition is more towards supporting her son (Prajwal), in grooming him to be a successful leader.”</p>.<p>Gowda said he had made several grassroots level workers of the party as its president, including C M Ibrahim and Mirajuddin Patel. Gowda said he has not decided whether to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls or not. </p>.<p>He said, “To tell you the truth I am yet to decide. Earlier this year, I requested the Lok Sabha Speaker to give me time to speak in the House as this would be my last speech in Parliament. But this does not mean I am afraid to face the people in elections.”</p>.<p>Gowda is a sitting member of the Hassan parliamentary constituency.</p>
<p>Former prime minister and JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday downplayed the charge that he indulged in “dynasty politics” and stated that his sons and grandsons had entered politics following pressure from the people.</p>.<p>In an interaction organised by DH-Prajavani, Gowda said that in his career he never favoured his family members entering politics. He said H D Kumaraswamy, H D Revanna (sons), Anitha Kumaraswamy (daughter-in-law) had entered politics as people wanted them to contest elections.</p>.<p>“My son Revanna never wanted to be in politics. When I was languishing in jail during Emergency, he was in Bengaluru aspiring to be an entrepreneur. Then he decided to contest the Zilla Panchayat polls. Kumaraswamy was a film producer. Party MLAs dragged him into politics,” Gowda said.</p>.<p>On his grandsons Prajwal Revanna and Nikhil Kumaraswamy likely to be given party tickets to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Hassan and Mandya respectively, Gowda said, “Prajwal is a BE graduate and I got to know he nurtured the ambition of contesting elections (Hassan Lok Sabha constituency). I have it left for party functionaries in the constituency to take a call.”</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/liveblog/watch-live-h-d-deve-gowda-in-conversation-with-deccan-herald-721627.html" target="_blank"><strong>HIGHLIGHTS | H D Deve Gowda in conversation with Deccan Herald</strong></a></p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/no-ambition-become-prime-721670.html" target="_blank">No ambition to become Prime Minister: Deve Gowda</a></strong></p>.<p>He said Nikhil is a budding film star. When Nikhil visited a few villages, the people wanted him to contest from Mandya. “This party is not exclusive to Deve Gowda’s family. Only after consulting with my party leaders, I take a call,” Gowda said.</p>.<p>He said Kumaraswamy, Revanna and Anitha fought elections to become legislators. “They do not enter politics through the backdoor”, he said.</p>.<p>He said his other daughter-in-law Bhavani (Revanna’s wife) hails from a political background and she may have the ambition to enter politics. “But as far as I know, her ambition is more towards supporting her son (Prajwal), in grooming him to be a successful leader.”</p>.<p>Gowda said he had made several grassroots level workers of the party as its president, including C M Ibrahim and Mirajuddin Patel. Gowda said he has not decided whether to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls or not. </p>.<p>He said, “To tell you the truth I am yet to decide. Earlier this year, I requested the Lok Sabha Speaker to give me time to speak in the House as this would be my last speech in Parliament. But this does not mean I am afraid to face the people in elections.”</p>.<p>Gowda is a sitting member of the Hassan parliamentary constituency.</p>
