Kin is king gets JD(S) in trouble

Criticised as the “Father and Sons’ Party” by its political detractors, the JD(S) is in trouble. This time the trouble has erupted in its stronghold, Hassan.

MLA CS Putte Gowda and former MLA HM Vishwanath have decided to quit the party over the autocratic behaviour of JD(S) legislature party leader HD Revanna.

Putte Gowda, representing Shravanabelagola constituency in Hassan district, and Vishwanath, a former MLA of Sakaleshpur from the same district, said it was impossible to tolerate the humiliation being heaped on them by Revanna.

Speaking to DNA, Putte Gowda said, “I will resign from my assembly membership after the forthcoming legislature session. It is impossible to continue in the JD(S) as the conditions are turning hostile for us.”

Sources close to Putte Gowda and Vishwanath attributed the family politics of JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda as the reason for the latest upheaval. “HD Revanna’s wife Bhavani is likely to be fielded from the Belur constituency in Hassan district. Her campaigning for her father-in-law HD Deve Gowda during the previous Hassan Lok Sabha election had impressed Gowda. She is almost certain to be fielded in the next assembly election,” sources said.

“CN Balakrishna, brother of Deve Gowda’s son-in-law Dr CN Manjunath, seems to be eyeing the Shravanabelagola seat represented by Putte Gowda. They want to force him to quit the party so that Balakrishna could be given the ticket ,” said former minister Vishwanath.

That is not all. Ground is being prepared for the third generation of Deve Gowda’s family to take the poll plunge. “HD Revanna’s son Prajwal Kumar, who has studied in Australia, is showing keen interest in Hassan district politics. There is already talk about Prajwal being groomed to contest the next Lok Sabha election from Hassan, a constituency being represented by his grandfather Deve Gowda,” sources said.