Fathers, sons throw their hats into political ring

Mysuru: Fight between siblings for tickets and posts is common in politics. Following this precedent, three districts in the Old Mysuru region - Mysuru, Kodagu, and Hassan, will witness a unique family political affair in the upcoming election where fathers and sons are likely to throw their hats into the ring representing different political parties.In Mysuru, Congress veteran Vasu, a former MLA, is eyeing the Chamaraja seat from Congress, while his son Kavish Gowda is seeking a BJP ticket from Chamundeshwari. Mantar Gowda is one of the Congress ticket aspirants in Madikeri in Kodagu, while his father, A Manju, is a JD(S) candidate from Arkalgud in Hassan.

Earlier in November 2022, when his father Manju was in the BJP, Mantar had contested MLC election from a Congress ticket and lost. He is now actively working in Madikeri constituency limits and expecting Congress party nomination. According to the sources close to the family, both the father and son duo wanted to contest from the Congress in the upcoming assembly election. However, when the party decided to give tickets to only one member of the family, Manju, who was with BJP and wanted to join Congress, shifted to the JD(S).Kavish, son of Congress veteran Vasu, joined the BJP recently at Bengaluru. According to the BJP sources, he has shown interest in contesting from Chamundeshwari constituency representing the party. According to Vasu, a former MLA from Chamaraja constituency in Mysuru city limits, he and his son are staying separately for the last seven years. “He is independent to take his decisions,” he said. “I am a Congress party ticket aspirant from the Chamaraja constituency,” he told STOI.“You can’t compare other people with me as I didn’t change my party ever, and am an original Congressman,” he said. Former minister A Manju, who has now been announced as the JD(S) nominee from Arkalgud in Hassan, said his son is a secular person and he was a zilla panchayat member from the Congress. “Even when I joined the BJP, he didn’t follow me. We never discuss politics at home,” he said. “In politics, no one is a permanent enemy or friend,” he added.