Bengaluru: While the Congress led by chief minister Siddaramaiah and the main opposition BJP led by BS Yeddyurappa are engaged in a war of words over various issues and both of them are busy touring the state to mobilise the support, the third player JDS of the Gowdas is busy fighting a family battle over Assembly tickets.
Divisions in the family, aspirations of the third generation members, ambitious women in the family and the clueless leade the s/workers define current status of Janata Dal (Secular). The 85-year-old patriarch of the family, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda is struggling to strike a fine balance between family ambitions and party aspirations.
Out of his four sons, two of them - HD Kumaraswamy and HD Revanna are into politics. Kumaraswamy who heads the JDS Karnataka unit has already been a chief minister once and he is JDS’s CM nominee again. His elder brother HD Revanna has been a powerful Cabinet minister in the past and controls their family fiefdom Hassan district in southern Karnataka. Kumaraswamy’s wife Anitha was once an MLA. She lost the subsequent Assembly and Lok Sabha polls to Congress. Revanna’s wife Bhavani is a member of the Zilla Panchayat and wants to make it to the Assembly this time. Bhavani and Revanna’s son Prajwal Revanna, 27, has already caused a mini-earthquake in both family and party by openly hitting out at his uncle Kumaraswamy. Prajwal is a strong contender for an Assembly ticket this time.
Worried over the negative image plaguing the party, Deve Gowda declared that only Kumaraswamy and Revanna would be contesting in the next Assembly polls and no third member from the family would be given ticket. It was also endorsed by Kumarawamy. But Gowda’s decision led to a mini coup in the family. Grandson Prajwal revolted and made it clear that he will contest come what may. He is eyeing Belur Assembly seat in family pocket borough of Hassan district, and has already ruffled many feathers.
A few months ago addressing JDS workers at Hunasur near Mysore Prajwal had said that “suitcase” culture is prevalent in the party. It shook the party and in a damage control attempt grandfather Gowda publicly chastised him and even threatened rebellious grandson with a disciplinary action.
Prajwal apologised to have “hurt” grandfather Gowda and uncle Kumaraswamy with his “immature” outbursts. A few months later, in a surprising move, Gowda appointed him to the post of JDS state general secretary. Insiders told this reporter that pressure was intense on Gowda to give him some importance ahead of elections. This decision angered Kumaraswamy’s wife Anitha, who is batting for herself and son film actor Nikhil Gowda. Her supporters started declaring openly that Anitha will contest from Channapatna Assembly seat, if Prajwal is given a ticket. The JDS Channaptna unit has already declared her candidature. According to Gowda family observers, in that case Prajwal will be given Assembly ticket from Belur.
If Bhavani Revanna and Nikhil Gowda also get tickets, instead of two, Six members from the Gowda clan will be fighting in this “do or die” battle. It does not stop there. Members from the extended family are also in the queue for the tickets. Gowda’s youngest son Dr Ramesh’s father in law DC Thammanna is already an MLA from Maddur in Mandya district and he will be repeated this time. Gowda’s first son in law and renowned cardiologist Dr CN Manjunath’s younger brother Balakrishna is already an MLA from Shravanabelagola in Hassan district. He too will be fielded again.
Gowda’s first son and retired bureaucrat HD Balakrishnegowda’s daughter’s father-in-law and retired Vice Chancellor of Mysore University Dr HC Rangappa’s name has already been cleared for Chamaraja Assembly seat in Mysore city. According to a close aide of Gowda, the list may grow even longer if he accedes to the demand of other family members who also want to be accommodated. The brazen family favouritism which is a hallmark of regional parties has upset a lot of party leaders and workers. Seven sitting MLAs have already quit the party to join the Congress blaming family politics. The working president of the state unit and seven-time MLC Basavaraja Horatti is maintaining a distance from party affairs apparently upset with the family promotion by the Gowdas.
Another MLA and Gowda’s close confidant YSV Datta is also maintaining a complete silence these days. He is also reportedly upset with the family over many issues. When News18 contacted Deve Gowda, he said that tickets would be distributed based on merit and winnability. He said: “Congress and BJP call us a family run party. They also encourage family members. In my party, tickets will be given to the candidates who have a winning chance. We are a poor party. We can’t spend money like Congress and BJP. But the people will give us one more chance”. He declined to comment on the alleged wrangling in the family.
According to a political analyst, who is close to Gowda, first, he has to win family election to win Karnataka later. It sums up everything. Large family and larger issues.
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