Mysuru: Asserting that he was definitely going to contest the forthcoming Assembly polls from Chamaraja Constituency in the city as an Independent, come what may, rebel JD(S) leader K. Harish Gowda said that he had already made the groundwork for the polls.

Speaking to press persons at a private hotel here on Saturday, Harish Gowda said he was deeply pained by the developments in the JD(S) with the party almost finalising the candidature of another leader.

Maintaining that he was contesting the polls for getting elected and not to defeat any other candidate, he claimed that BJP and Congress leaders were in touch with him.

Pointing out that some JD(S) leaders too have asked him not to be hasty as the party may issue the Chamaraja ticket to him at the last minute, Harish Gowda said that whatever the developments that may take place in the days to come, there will be no compromise on his contest whatsoever.

Stating that he had toiled hard over the years for the JD(S), he said that he backed out of the 2013 Assembly polls from Chamaraja, in favour of H.S. Shankaralingegowda, who had joined the JD(S) after quitting the BJP.

Then, JD(S) leaders such as H.D. Deve Gowda, H.D. Kumaraswamy and H.D. Revanna had assured him the party ticket for the 2018 polls. But the latest development had deeply hurt him, he said and reiterated that he was going to contest as an Independent.

Expressing confidence that he will get elected from Chamaraja, Harish Gowda blamed a JD(S) MLA and an MLC for the party to deny him the ticket.

Pointing out that he has a lot of respect for H.D. Deve Gowda, H.D. Kumaraswamy and H.D. Revanna, Harish Gowda announced that he would launch a 40-day padayatra in Chamaraja Assembly segment from Jan. 21.

He also released a booklet titled ‘Nimmolagobha K. Harish Gowda’ on the occasion, meant for distribution amongst all households in the constituency.

Prof. P.V. Nanjaraj Urs, Srikara Basavananda Swamiji and Mohammad Ibrahim were present at the press meet.