Bengaluru: JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda yesterday broke down while launching the poll campaign of his grandson Prajwal Revanna in Hassan.
The whole event was an emotional event as the JDS family turned teary eyed when the former prime minister declared Prajwal as the candidate from Hassan constituency for the coming elections.
“…so many allegations, from morning in the media (they talk about) Deve Gowda, Revanna, Kumaraswamy and their sons,” said an emotional Gowda. There has been growing criticism that the JD(S) was involved in dynasty politics after both of Gowda’s grandsons NikilKumaraswamy and Prajwal Revanna were being fielded from party bastions of Mandya and Hassan, respectively, for the coming Lok Sabha polls.
Later speaking to reporters, Gowda said he was pained by the ‘dynasty politics’ allegations against them. He spoke about the controversy surrounding H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil’s candidature in Mandya. A section of people began the ‘Nikhil Go Back’ campaign on social media. Talking about this, Gowda clarified that he didn’t announce Nikhil’s canditure, but it was a decision taken by JD(S) leaders. “…I will go to Mandya… let them shout go back… for whom I fought in last 60 years, I will place everything before the people of Mandya,” said an emotional Gowda.
BJP, however, hit out at Deve Gowda and called the whole thing an emotional episode as drama. There has been media reports that many JD(S) supporters were irked by the party leaders sidelining loyal workers and favouring family members instead.
BJP in its Twitter handle posted videos of Gowda and his family members getting emotional at the Hassan event and said that the first drama for the 2019 elections has began now. “If “CRYING” was an art Sri. @H_D_Devegowda & his family would hold the record for mastering the “Art Of Crying” to constantly fool people for decades. Matter of the fact is Before elections Deve Gowda & his family cries. After elections people who vote this family cries,” it said in another tweet.