Mysuru:  Like many had expected former Minister and Chamudeshwari JD(S) MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD) abstained himself from attending the party’s ‘Chintana-Mantana’ programme.

The programme was organised to discuss JD(S) party’s recent performance in the Lok Sabha election as well as other issues within the party organisation at Hotel Rio Meridian in Bannimantap, here this  morning.

Today’s meeting was attended by JD(S) MLAs, Zilla Panchayat members, Taluk Panchayat members, Mysuru City Corporators and party leaders of Mysuru district. However, MLA G.T. Devegowda was not to be seen at the venue. According to sources, the former Minister is said to have skipped the meeting as he was not invited.

It may be recalled that GTD  was unhappy when he was allotted the portfolio (Higher Education) in the previous JD(S)-Congress Coalition Government. And since, then there have been rumours of a rift between him and senior members of his party.

More recently, the former Minister had openly expressed his displeasure after being ignored while nominating office bearers for the party. Adding to this, was his recent spat with fellow party MLA S.R. Mahesh, are said to be some of the reasons that the sources have sighted for his absence in today’s meeting.

HDK requests media to stay out

Former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, who visited Mysuru for the first time after stepping down from the office, requested the media persons to leave the venue where ‘Chintana-Mantana’ programme was being held after the inauguration.

He said it was an internal meeting of the party and did not want media’s presence. Speaking during inauguration, the former CM asked the JD(S) leaders and party workers present to speak their mind and express their opinion freely when session begins as their inputs were valuable for the party.

MLAs S.R. Mahesh and Ashwin Kumar, former Mayors, formers Deputy Mayors, Corporators, ZP members and other party leaders were present.