Senior JD(S) leader G.T. Deve Gowda was absent at the Janarondige Janata Dala convention held in the Chamundeshwari Assembly Constituency in Mysuru on Sunday (May 17). He represents the constituency.

Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda, who has stayed away from the party’s programmes and leadership for about two years now, visited former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda at the latter’s residence in Bengaluru on Friday (May 15), three days before the JD(S) supremo’s birthday and two days before the convention.

This visit, along with Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda’s public declaration that he will contest as the JD(S) candidate from Chamundeshwari again in 2028, irked several party leaders in Mysuru. 

Though former Minister S.R. Mahesh expressed his disappointment with Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda’s “opportunistic” politics, he said the partymen will accept the Chamundeshwari MLA if the party leadership issues such directions. 

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy was forced to reassure the party workers at the convention that there is no confusion in the party.

However, he made it clear that the Chamundeshwari Assembly Constituency was a JD(S) stronghold because of the people of the constituency and not because of any single personality, indirectly referring to Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda.

Making it clear that he has a special relationship with the constituency since the 2006 byelections, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the JD(S) did not win the constituency during the last three successive elections because of any “one person”. 

He said the Janarondige Janata Dal convention was organised in Chamundeshwari by Harish Gowda, Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda’s son and Hunsur MLA, under the guidance of Mr. Mahesh.

Without naming Mr. G.T. Deve Gowda, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he will not allow any confusion in the constituency. “I know what decision to take. The party will take a decision keeping in mind the sentiments of the party workers,” he said, adding that the party will neither tolerate any disrespect to the party workers nor succumb to any pressure.

Mr. Kumaraswamy vowed to protect Chamundeshwari as a stronghold of the JD(S) with the help of honest and dedicated party workers.