LS bypoll: Gowda not to field his grandsons from Mandya

Former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday clarified that he would not field his grandsons for bypolls from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Tamba village, Gowda said, "One of the leaders from Mandya will contest the by-elections. We had talks with the Congress leaders in this regards."

The Congress will finalise its candidate for the by-elections to Bellary Lok Sabha constituency. The party (JD-S) is keen to field Madhu Bangarappa from Shimoga Parliamentary constituency. Madhu is in Denmark on a family trip. Candidate for Shimoga will be finalised after taking his opinion once he returns home, Gowda said.

We (coalition partners) have taken by-elections to Assembly and Parliamentary seats seriously. We have chalked out a strategy to face the bypolls. We will seek the votes on the grounds of the achievements of Siddaramaiah-led Congress government and the coalition government, he said.

The farm loan waiver announced by the state government has not completely stopped the farmers from taking drastic step. The coalition government has decided to end farmer suicides by implementing Debt Relief Act. I had talks with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the said Act. The farmers will stop taking the drastic step if the Act gets President's nod, Gowda said.