Siddaramaiah's Chamudeshwari nemesis GT Deve Gowda patches up with ex-CM, 'will join Congress'
In a big development in Karnataka politics, giant slayer GT Deve Gowda who defeated sitting CM Siddaramaiah from Chamundeshwari in 2018 is set to join Congress. Interestingly, it is Siddaramaiah who pitched Gowda's name before-party high command after they both patched up during Hunsur by-elections in 2019 December. Speaking to Asianet Newsable, JD(S) MLA GT Deve Gowda said the relationship between him and Siddaramaia is very much intact now.
FollowThe JD(S) party in Karnataka which is facing the threat of extinction has suffered a blow after its giant killer and Chamundeshwari MLA GT Deve Gowda has openly said he will join Congress and once he completes his term as JD(S) MLA.
Speaking to Asianet Newsable about his decision, Gowda blamed HD Kumaraswamy for giving too much importance to KR Nagar MLA Sa Ra Mahesh and sidelining loyal workers.
Gowda contended that it was him who got Sa Ra Mahesh from BJP to JD(S) and now blames Mahesh for backstabbing him.
Gowda accused HD Kumaraswamy of deliberately giving him the Higher Education department during JD(S)-Congress rule only to finish him off politically.
I have less qualifications, yet I excelled and proved, but by then I realized that there were attempts to finish me politically. Hence, I decided to leave the party. For the last two years, I have not attended any party meetings and have restricted myself to only Assembly, said Gowda.
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Coming from a farming community background, GT Deve Gowda aspired for Agriculture or Horticulture department then.
It is believed that Gowda has been assured a ticket not just for himself but also for his son to contest the Assembly election in 2023.
Our relationship is very good: GT Deve Gowda
Recalling the incidents of Veerandra Patil-Indira Gandhi and HD Deve Gowda-PRG Scindia split and patching up again, Gowda said, during Hunsur by-elections, ex-CM Siddaramaiah and he patched up and he has expressed his desire to join Congress.
Later when DK Shivakumar was released from jail in connection with the ED case, Gowda met him to express solidarity.
Gowda stressed that Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar camps will not matter as ultimately everyone has to fall in line following High Command's direction. "Both the leaders have given their suggestions to the party high command regarding my inclusion," stressed Gowda.
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Congress welcomes the move:Â Lavanya BallalÂ
Lavanya Ballal, AICC Spokesperson reacting to the development said that a leader like GT Deve Gowda is an asset for whichever party he represents.
All are most welcome to come to join us, GT Deve Gowda is a senior leader. Our senior party leaders and high command will decide on his inclusion. We are an all-inclusive party and when elections are nearing, more leaders would join Congress, opined the AICC Spokesperson.
Will convince Gowda once again and attempt to iron out the differences: JD(S)
HK Kumaraswamy, Hassan MLA and JD(S) state president said that GT Deve Gowda is taking a wrong and hasty decision and stressed that efforts will be made to iron out differences and convince him to stay back.The JD(S) president added that if Gowda has any problem with MLA Sa Ra Mahesh, he can still address within the party forum rather than going public with his statements.
