Mysuru: After staying away from former PM and JD(S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda’s recent engagements in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts, Chamundeshwari JD(S) MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD) on Thursday openly criticised JD(S) State party Chief H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK) and K.R. Nagar MLA  S.R. Mahesh.

Speaking to press persons after attending the birth anniversary celebration of Co-operative Movement leader Siddanagouda Patil at Rotary Hall here yesterday, GTD alleged that Kumaraswamy was going back on his assurance to field his (GTD) son Harish Gowda from Hunsur Assembly segment.

Directly targeting Kumaraswamy, GTD accused him of failing to take along all the leaders in the party. Maintaining that he has ensured that JD(S) is strong in Hunsur segment, though the segment is currently represented by the Congress, the Chamundeshwari JD(S) MLA alleged that Kumaraswamy was now taking unilateral decisions based on the feedback from S.R. Mahesh.

Hitting out at S.R. Mahesh, Devegowda said he was hurt and disillusioned as Kumaraswamy always paid heed to the words of S.R. Mahesh. Denying rumours about him joining the Congress, G.T. Devegowda said that he will be meeting the party Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda on June 16 and will explain his stand and also complain against Kumaraswamy and S.R. Mahesh.

Claiming that Kumaraswamy and S.R. Mahesh had totally ignored him while naming the city Mayor, he reiterated that he was deeply hurt by the latest developments in the party.

Vehemently denying that he will shift from Chamundeshwari to Hunsur in the 2018 polls, G.T. Devegowda asserted that he was not vacating the seat for Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and that the CM can contest from any part of the State unlike him.

He further said that he was close to the people in Chamundeshwari Constituency, cutting across party lines.

GTD, Vishwanath shake hands: While former MP A.H. Vishwanath, who is upset over CM Siddharamaiah, is inching closer to the JD(S) and is likely to join the party at a rally in city on June 7, G.T. Devegowda is reportedly upset as Vishwanath is likely to be fielded from Hunsur segment.

The two leaders were seen shaking hands and talking for sometime at the programme.

S.R. Mahesh denies GTD’s allegations

K.R. Nagar MLA  S.R. Mahesh, denying G.T. Devegowda’s remarks against him, said that G.T. Devegowda was one among the party’s top leaders and all issues raised by the senior leader will be sorted out amicably.

Admitting that there were small differences in Mysuru unit of the party, he said the objective of every JD(S) worker is to make H.D. Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister. Referring to the selection of city Mayor, Mahesh said Mayor M.J. Ravikumar had the support of more JD(S) Corporators than K.T. Cheluvegowda. M.J. Ravikumar was selected as Mayor based on the JD(S) top brass decision and he  himself had no role in it, he maintained and added that all party leaders will sit together and sort out the differences soon. He further said that he was ready to work under the leadership of G.T. Devegowda, Chikkamadu and other senior party leaders.