A day after declaring the candidature of his elder grandson Prajwal Revanna for Hassan, Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda formally announced that his other grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, would contest from Mandya Lok Sabha seat.
Speaking to a large gathering of supporters on Thursday, Mr. Gowda said accusations of “nepotism and dynastic politics” against his family were unfounded.
He said he did not even want his son to be named the Chief Minister of Karnataka and had instead suggested the name of M. Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Leader in the Lok Sabha, for the post after the 2018 Assembly polls.
“Mr. Kumaraswamy’s health condition was not good then. Hence, I wanted Mr. Kharge to become the Chief Minister. But, AICC president Rahul Gandhi and his mother, Sonia Gandhi, offered the position to the JD(S).,” he said. Stressing the need for keeping the forces dividing the country at bay, Mr. Gandhi, had offered the position to the JD(S), he said.
“Since then, the State has witnessed many byelections and the BJP has succeeded in winning only one seat,” Mr. Gowda said.
Charge against Modi
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been saying that he would make India Congress-free. But, it would not become a reality. No one can destroy anyone in this democratic set-up. The Prime Minister has been neglecting the common people and farmers,” he said.
Mr. Gowda said he had understood Mr. Nikhil’s urge to serve society when Mr. Kumaraswamy underwent a heart surgery for the second time. He had volunteered to step in to help his father, said the former Prime Minister.
On the occasion, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he was pained following the “unnecessary prominence” being given by the media for the issues related to the Mandya Lok Sabha seat.
‘Do not mock my tears’
Mr. Gowda, who drew a lot of flak on social media for weeping on stage on Wednesday while announcing Mr. Prajwal Revanna’s candidature for Hassan seat, on Thursday said he was pained by the ridicule.
“Do not mock my tears,” he said, and added that he had become emotional recalling his nearly 60 years of political career which began in Hassan. “I will not cry for my grandson here. Nikhil is mature enough to serve the people of this constituency and he will stay here. People should elect him,” he said.