B form: JD(S) messes up in 2 constituencies
As per rules, both would be considered party nominees by the returning officer.
Bengaluru: The JD(S) suffered a major embarrassment in two constituencies with candidates supported by family members of the Deve Gowda family, replacing the sitting MLAs, by obtaining the C-form which overrules the B-form issued by the party.
For instance, in Shidlaghatta, both sitting MLA Mr Rajanna and party state president Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy's aide Mr Melur Ravi managed to obtain the C-forms as party candidates. The other constituency is KR Pet, where sitting MLA Mr Narayan Gowda was displaced by Mr Devaraj, who is close to Mr Gowda's family members.
Trouble has been brewing in Shidlaghatta for the last two years after Mr Melur Ravi started working in the constituency and declared himself as the candidate. He is said to be close to Mr Kumaraswamy, while sitting MLA Mr Rajanna banked on Mr Gowda for getting renominated from the party.
On Sunday, Mr Gowda issued the B-form to Mr Ravi for filing the nomination. However, on Monday, Mr Rajanna managed to get the B-form and C-form, which annulled the B-form issued to Mr Ravi. The issue took another turn on Tuesday, when Mr Ravi obtained another C-form, which annulled the C-form issued to Mr Rajanna.
As per rules, both would be considered party nominees by the returning officer. However, during scruitiny, the last C-form holds good and so Mr Ravi will be the party candidate which may force Mr Rajanna to contest as an independent.
The KR Pet constituency witnessed a similar tussle between sitting MLA Mr Narayana Gowda and local JD(S) leader Mr Devaraj. Mr Narayana Gowda hails from KR Pet and migrated to Mumbai and became a big hotelier there. During the last election, the JD(S) had given him the ticket, assuring local leaders that it would be for only one term. Mr Devaraj too was a contender during the 2013 election but agreed to wait for one term. He is considered close to Mr Gowda family members.
But Mr Narayana Gowda wanted to continue for one more term and so Mr Kumaraswamy agreed to let him contest. But, KR Pet JD(S) leaders and Mr Gowda's other family members were against issuing the ticket to Mr Narayana Gowda again though he has already obtained the B-form.
After much deliberation, on Monday evening, Mr Deve Gowda issued the B and C forms to Mr Devaraj, who will be the official candidate of the JD(S).