LS polls: proposal to field Nikhil draws criticism

The recent developments in the JD(S) to promote Nikhil Gowda as the Lok Sabha candidate from Mandya has not gone down well with a section of the people in Mandya district, as well as among a section of the party leaders and workers.

It has to be noted that a delegation of the JD(S) leaders from Mandya district, especially Zilla Panchayat president Nagarathna Swamy and members, met the party leaders in Bengaluru and urged them to declare Nikhil Gowda as the MP candidate from the district. Nikhil, son of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, has already established himself as an actor in the film industry. One of his film was also made in both Kannada and Telugu. His mother, MLA Anitha Kumaraswamy from Ramanagara, earlier represented Madhugiri Assembly constituency in Tumakuru district. She is also a film producer and a promoter of a television channel.

Venkatagiriyaiah, an activist, a leader of a faction of Dalit Sangharsha Samithi, has said, “As there is no able and self-respecting leaders in Mandya JD(S), it has become inevitable to borrow one from Deve Gowda family.”

M B Naganna, another activist, has commented, “Suppose Deve Gowda family feels that leaders of Mandya are not capable of ruling. So, they have assumed as minor guardians of Mandians.”

ZP president Nagarathna Swamy said, “We wanted Deve Gowda himself as a candidate from Mandya. But, he has evinced interest in the Bengaluru North constituency. So, we are appealing for the candidature of Nikhil.”

D Ramesh, district JD(S) president, said, “The intention behind proposing Nikhil as the candidate is to give a fillip to the development of the district.”

A N Ravindra, a JD(S) worker said, “Even I used to oppose when people ridiculed the JD(S) as a father-son party. Now, I am also disappointed. It has become a man-sons-daughters-in-law-grandsons party. Already Hassan, their native, is their strong fort. The party supremo Deve Gowda, his son H D Revanna and daughter-in-law Bhavani Revanna are people’s representatives there. Ramanagara district has also become their stronghold, with Kumaraswamy-Anitha couple becoming MLAs. The people of Mandya also have immense love for the family. But, till now, they did not have any intentions to contest from here, even though there were demands earlier also. Now, with Prajwal Revanna slated to contest from Hassan and Deve Gowda choosing Bengaluru North, Nikhil is eyeing Mandya.”

Sowjanya, a party worker, said that it is not just the greed of the Deve Gowda family for proposing Nikhil.

“MP L R Shivaramegowda, who was elected in November last, bypoll on 3 and counting on 6, is still not accepted as a JD(S) man. Despite, claiming the ticket for a full term, he has not made any efforts to take the party leaders into confidence. Besides, the Deve Gowda family also has aspirations. No one in the party is ready to speak their mind in public,” she said.