My grandson Prajwal will fight Lok Sabha poll from Hassan, H D Deve Gowda

HASSAN: It’s official. The grand old man of Karnataka politics and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Monday announced that his grandson Prajwal Revanna, son of Public Works minister H.D. Revanna will be the Lok Sabha candidate of the JD(S) for Hassan replacing him. Mr Gowda however gave no clear indication on whether he had decided not to contest or was eyeing another Lok Sabha seat for himself saying he was now 85 and would not like to contest polls in future.

The JD(S) supremo’s statement comes just a week after PWD Minister H.D. Revanna’s remark that his younger son Prajwal could wait before he plunges into electoral politics. Mr Gowda’s statement has brought the speculation to an end with Prajwal, who turned 28 a week back, set to contest from Hassan, considered a stronghold of the Deve Gowda family.

According to Mr Gowda, no leader from the party had come forward to contest from Hassan making it easy for Prajwal to enter the fray. “I will stay in Hassan for a few days and hold a party workers meeting,” he said adding that Prajwal has been working for the party for the past few years and has a bright future in politics. Mr Gowda also refused to comment on speculation that he would be the PM candidate if the Third Front comes to power at the Centre.

Asked to comment on his candidature, Prajwal claimed that he was unaware of the decision of his grandfather to field him from Hassan and said if it was the will of party functionaries, he was ready to contest. “I am keenly interested to contest from Hassan and respond to people’s problems,” he added.