HDK slaps a party worker in Mysuru?

JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy held a booth-level party workers meeting A group of workers demanded ticket for JD(S) leader GT Deve Gowda's son Rumours are rife that JD(S) is considering former minister Vishwanath - who is ready to join the party - for Hunsur constituency

A booth-level workers meeting of JD(S) in Mysuru - on Wednesday - turned chaotic after a party worker was allegedly slapped by the party state president HD Kumaraswamy. Television channels reported that a party worker from Hunsur came up to the former chief minister and demanded a ticket for Harish Gowda, son of former minister GT Deve Gowda from Hunsur constituency. The worker even fell at Kumaraswamy's feet and pleaded that the party should consider Harish Gowda for Hunsur.

When the efforts by JD(S) state president to console the party worker went in vain, he lost control and allegedly slapped the worker before dragging him away from the crowd. In fact, the demand for a ticket to Harish Gowda gains signifcance as rumours are rife that former minister H Vishwanath - who has openly threatened to quit Congress to join JD(S) - would be given a ticket by JD(S) from Hunsur constituency.

However, Kumaraswamy denied assaulting any party worker to the media. "I did not hit any party worker," he said. He acknowledged that a party worker had indeed demanded a ticket for Harish Gowda. But the decision to provide tickets to the candidates will be done after scrutinisation. The party supremo will decide the candidates, he said. "I told the party workers not to get agitated over the candidates' choice as the party has not finalised them, yet," Kumaraswamy said.