JD(S) doesn’t need or want Pooja Gandhi: HDK

In the backdrop of scathing remarks made against actress-turned-politician Pooja Gandhi by BJP Rajya Sabha member Aynur Manjunath, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy asked the actress to stay away from politics and choose her own path.
Addressing presspersons at his office, Kumaraswamy said he did not want Gandhi to be in his party anymore. “I can run my party without Pooja Gandhi,” he said.

Manjunath, a senior leader from Shimoga, had said that Kumaraswamy was running the JD(S) by keeping people like Gandhi in the partyfold. He had even said that the JD(S) was functioning like the notorious Dandupalya gang (it comprises serial killers).

Recently, a movie on the gang had hit the screens. It featured Gandhi as one of the gang members. Manjunath had said that after the actress played the role of a member of the gang of serial killers, Kumaraswamy inducted her into the party to do politics. He had remarked that no one knew when the JD(S) leaders would turn into serial killers.

The BJP leader’s comment came after Gandhi took part in the two-day massive protest organised by the JD(S) in Shimoga in support of farmers whose land was acquired by the government.
“I don’t need to learn from them (BJP leaders) how to run the party,” Kumaraswamy said. “Not only politicians, even many educated people are making nasty comments on Facebook since Pooja Gandhi joined the JD(S),” he said.

“She is like my sister,” he said and added: “I would like to tell people that I had not invited Pooja Gandhi to join my party. She was close to senior JD(S) leader and former MP C Narayanaswamy’s family members and hence joined my party. I don’t need her for doing politics.”

“I want to tell directly to Pooja Gandhi that she might not be needed to work for our party,” he said.

“I know what is happening between politicians who claim to be having father-daughter relationship,” he remarked.

The ‘rationale’
When asked him how fair it was on his part to take this decision following the remarks of a rival party leader, he said it was not because of the ugly comments that he arrived at this decision. He said he did not want Gandhi to get a bad name for joining the party.

He said the actress did not know Kannada too well. As he accepted her into the party, the media interpreted it as if he had gifted her a house.

“I am not in a position to support Pooja Gandhi and keep her in my party when such allegations are made. The elections are also nearing and I have to concentrate on it,” Kumaraswamy said.
DNA tried to reach Gandhi for her comments on the developments, but in vain.