People decide my family members' political fate: Gowda

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.

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.

“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.

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.”

HIGHLIGHTS | H D Deve Gowda in conversation with Deccan Herald

No ambition to become Prime Minister: Deve Gowda

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.

He said Kumaraswamy, Revanna and Anitha fought elections to become legislators. “They do not enter politics through the backdoor”, he said.

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.”

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. 

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.”

Gowda is a sitting member of the Hassan parliamentary constituency.