Just a day after the JD(S) youth face, Prajwal Revanna, tried to grab political space for himself by accusing his own party of “suitcase politics”, JD(S) chief and Prajwal’s grandfather, HD Deve Gowda vowed to take strict action against Prajwal.
“The boy’s future does not look bright if he goes about in such a fashion. It does not matter if he is my grandson. I will not hesitate to take action against those who speak ill of the party, even if it is my grandson Prajwal,” Deve Gowda told media persons.
The party supremo said that he was hurt by Prajwal’s comments, while adding that neither he, nor the members of JD(S) had ever indulged in suitcase politics.
Speaking at the party workers’ meet in Mysuru district’s Hunsur, Prajwal Revanna, had on Friday, said that party loyalists were forced to sit at the back but those with “suitcases get a seat in front”.
Son of Deve Gowda’s older son, HD Revanna, Prajwal has been working in Hunsur and plans to contest from the constituency in the 2018 Assembly elections.
Lashing out against Prajwal’s statement, Deve Gowda said that his grandson is “hotheaded” and that his comments “will affect his growth in the party in the future”.
“Some of my grandson’s followers are deliberately trying to mislead him. My agenda is to ensure that JD(S) survives and I will not allow family politics to affect it,” Deve Gowda added.
Playing down the issue, Prajwal’s father, HD Revanna told the media in Mysuru that, “Prajwal is young and only my father will take the final decision on who should contest”.
State JD(S) President and Gowda's younger son HD Kumaraswamy had said that no one except Revanna would get tickets for the 2018 polls. Contradicting Kumaraswamy’s statement, Deve Gowda, on Friday, said that HD Revanna’s wife, Bhavani, and Kumaraswamy’s wife, Anitha may also contest in the upcoming elections.
“Except my sons and daughters-in-law, no one else from my family will get a ticket to contest in the elections,” Deve Gowda said.
Anitha has already held a series of meetings with the party workers in Channapatna-Ramanagara district and indicated that she will contest from the segment in 2018. She has contested twice from the constituency, winning in 2008 and losing in 2013.
According to a party insider, Kumaraswamy does not want anyone but him and Revanna to contest as he does not want JD(S) to be seen as a party indulging in dynasty politics.
“Look at what has happened to the Congress party at the national level. If tickets are given to family members instead of party leaders who have been loyal to JD(S), there will be infighting, which will not bode well for the party. Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy differ on this matter. It remains to be seen what decision they make,” the source added.
He also said that Vishwanath’s defection from Congress to JD(S) has brought rifts between Prajwal and his uncle, Kumaraswamy.
“Prajwal wants to contest from Hunsur and this constituency has two lakh voters where Vokkaligas and Dalits form the major vote bank. There are about 30,000 Nayakas and 25,000 Kurubas besides 14,000 Lingayats and 13,000 Muslims. Some leaders in JD(S) want Vishwanath to contest from Hunsur as he can draw the Kuruba vote but some others want Prajwal,” a party insider said.
Prajwal has been actively working in Hunsur since January and reaching out to people and meeting local leaders. Vishwanath, who quit the Congress last month, is eyeing to contest from Hunsur, which is leading to tension within Gowda's family, the source added.
While Prajwal has been warned off by Deve Gowda, the party supremo said that he has always been soft-hearted towards his grandson. Gowda also hinted that Prajwal is likely to succeed him as the candidate for the Hassan Lok Sabha seat.
“I am not strong enough to contest parliamentary elections again. So maybe Prajwal can but aspirants for the Hassan seat are yet to be finalized,” he added.