KPCC slams NDA over RS seat denial to Deve Gowda

Mysuru: KPCC spokesperson M Lakshmana on Tuesday claimed that if NDA had informed that JD(S) supremo and former PM HD Deve Gowda that he will not be renominated to Rajya Sabha, Congress would have thought about giving one of the three seats to him.

He termed BJP’s decision to deny RS seat to Gowda is an insult to the Vokkaliga community, which, he said, should understand it.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, he stated that “No one expected such a humiliation to Gowda who is still mentally very strong”.

The BJP released its list last minute to mislead all. BJP IT Cell played tricks to convey that the saffron party will nominate the JD(S) top brass to RS from another state, he alleged. Though Gowda was heaping praise on PM Modi, still BJP hurt him, he alleged.

Lakshmana alleged that Union minister and state JD(S) president HD Kumaraswamy has pledged the entire regional party to BJP. “I have a small request for Kumaraswamy on behalf of JD(S) workers. Please reconsider your alliance with BJP,” he said.

“Ten days ago, BJP leaders had stated that state unit recommended Gowda’s name as NDA candidate. But now high command nominated a person whose name was not recommended by the party state unit,” he lamented.

“HD Kumaraswamy didn’t bring even a single project to the state. He didn’t interact with any of the state representatives on reviving the central PSUs in the state,” Lakshmana alleged.

“In the next three months Kumaraswamy will lose his ministry,” he said. He questioned Kumaraswamy’s silence on the insult to Deve Gowda by the BJP. “DMK and TMC rebels are expected to join NDA. After that JD(S) will lose relevance at the center,” he predicted.

“After DK Shivakumar became CM, many Vokkaliga voters who joined the BJP camp earlier returned to Congress fold. In the 2028 election, Congress will retain power with a bigger majority of 150 MLAs,” he said.

On Mysore MP Yaduveer Wadiyar’s criticism that developmental works are stalled in the state, he questioned the contribution of MP to the constituency. “His grandfather Mysuru maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar was known for social justice and secularism. But you are in a communal party. What is his contribution to the constituency?,” he questioned.