HD Gowda woos neglected communities’ support

Tumakuru: Janata Dal (Secular) supremo, H D Deve Gowda (86) may have a lot to contend with in Tumakuru where he is contesting from these Lok Sabha polls, but he is working hard to win over the various communities in the constituency.

After Saturday's backward classes meet organised by the Kuruba Sangha in Tumakuru, it was a Madiwala (washermen) community meet on Monday where Mr Gowda promised to work for the welfare of neglected communities and recalled that he was responsible for the reservation in gram panchayats and City Municipal Councils .

 "Who gave backward classes and 21 other neglected communities political recognition by giving them reservation in panchayats and CMCs? " he asked and promised to take the 29 smaller communities spread across Tumakuru with him in matters of development.

"I understand their plight and will do everything possible to uplift them. I will fulfil my duties if elected from Tumakuru as an MP for five years,"  he  said, also assuring the washermen that he would work to make them economically strong and self-reliant if they backed him these polls.

The octogenarian,who is a Vokkaliga himself, said he and Kuruba community strongman, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, were working in tandem these elections and were united in serving the people of the state.

Also, attempting to win the sympathy of the assembled washermen, he said he had been campaigning hard , so much so that his legs  had become swollen.

"I have been campaigning hard for a week and now my legs have swollen," he said, clearly appealing to their sympathetic side.