Mysuru: Prof. K.S. Rangappa, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore (UoM) and Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), joined JD(S) in the presence of JD(S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and the party’s State Unit Chief H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK) at an induction programme held at Sa.Ra. Convention Hall in Dattagalli yesterday.
Along with Prof. Rangappa, former KPSC Member Prof. H. Govindaiah too joined the party. The others who joined the party included former city Corporator Shankarappa, Bannur Kumar, Bogadi Nagaraj and other leaders from the Congress and BJP.
Welcoming them to the party, Deve Gowda said that Prof. Rangappa had made remarkable achievements as VC of UoM and KSOU. Noting that the induction of Prof. Rangappa and Prof. Govindaiah had further strengthened the party in the region, Deve Gowda said, he would comment on the functioning of the State and Central Governments at an appropriate time as this was only an induction programme.
Former CM and State JD(S) President HDK, in his address, said that there was no difference of opinion among JD(S) leaders and they stand united.
Maintaining that the statement of Prajwal Revanna, son of his brother H.D. Revanna, did not hurt him, Kumaraswamy clarified that the young leader has not met him so far. Prajwal had made a startling revelation about ‘Suitcase culture’ in the party recently.
Alleging that some leaders are conspiring to plant stories in the media that the JD(S) leaders are divided, the former CM taking a dig at the party rebel MLAs, said a few leaders, who practised ‘suitcase culture’, have now left the party.
Coming down heavily on BJP leaders for tension and violence in Mangaluru, he said, the BJP men staged a protest when the situation was tense in the region.
He also hit out at the Government for failing to bring back peace in the region and for not holding a peace meeting.
Kumaraswamy also called upon the party workers and MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD) to ensure the defeat of CM Siddharamaiah in Chamundeshwari Constituency if he chooses to contest from there in the 2018 Assembly polls.
Stating that there were reports that Siddharamaiah would contest from Chamundeshwari Assembly segment, he said that GTD should take it as a challenge to ensure the CM’s defeat.
Maintaining that Siddharamaiah’s contribution to Chamundeshwari constituency was nil, the State JD(S) President said that the JD(S) should come to power, thus making former PM H.D. Deve Gowda’s dream comes true. He also lashed out at Siddharamaiah and PWD Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa for appointing their sons as Chairman of Awareness Committee on Housing Schemes at Varuna and T. Narasipura Constituencies respectively.
Former Minister A.H. Vishwanath, who joined the JD(S) recently, came down heavily on the Siddharamaiah Government. Asserting that he would strive for bringing the JD(S) to power in the 2018 Assembly polls, Vishwanath said that Deve Gowda played a key role in the formation of the first non-Congress Govt. in the State in 1983 and that spirit should be maintained now in throwing out the Siddharamaiah-led Congress Government.
Vishwanath will contest from Hunsur: GTD
Former Minister and Chamundeshwari MLA G.T Devegowda said that former MP A.H. Vishwanath will contest from Hunsur Assembly segment in the 2018 polls.
He said that his family and Prajwal Revanna have sacrificed the seat for Vishwanath. Expressing confidence that Vishwanath will win by a thumping majority, GTD said there was no doubt that H.D. Kumaraswamy will become the Chief Minister after the 2018 Assembly polls.
Differences Surface
Even as former VC Prof. Rangappa joined JD(S), differences within the party surfaced as the city JD(S) President K. Harish Gowda did not attend the meeting. Harish Gowda, who is a keen aspirant for Chamaraja Assembly segment, was said to be working to get the party ticket. But on the day, when Prof. Rangappa joined the party, Harish Gowda, deciding to stay away from the prog., left for Tamil Nadu, it is learnt.
HDK, who was visibly upset with Harish Gowda’s absence, said that the City Unit Chief should have attended the event.
MLA S.R. Mahesh, MLCs Appaji Gowda and K.T. Srikantegowda, Zilla Panchayat President Nayeema Sulthana, Mayor M.J. Ravikumar, JD(S) District President Narasimha Swamy and others attended the event.
This post was published on July 11, 2017 6:56 pm