ZP-TP polls: When going gets tough, JD(S) legislators turn to their wives

Hassan: What do you do when faced with a tough challenge at the polls? Turn to the wives or so it seems going by three Janata Dal Secular JD(S) legislators of Hassan, who have fielded their better halves in the ZP poll of February 20.

Worried about the Congress's chances since it has won the Legislative Council poll in Hassan, the legislators have reportedly decided to play their secret card: Field their wives in the contest.

While Ms Bhavani, wife of former minister and Holenarsipur MLA, H D Revanna, filed her nomination for Halekote on Saturday, surprising many, her relative Kusuma, wife of Shravanabelgaola MLA, Balakrishna is contesting from Baguru. Monday saw Sakleshpur MLA, H K Kumarswamy’s wife, Chanchala join them by filing her nomination for the Belagodu seat in Sakleshpur taluk. While Ms Bhavani and Ms Chanchala are contesting for the first time, Ms Kusuma was a member of the previous ZP.

Ask Ms Bhavani about her decision and she says she merely gave in to pressure from party workers.

"There was also no consensus among the party workers on the candidate for Halekote seat, so I stepped in," she said. On fielding his wife, Mr Kumarswamy said he gave in to pressure from party leaders who wanted to make the contest tougher for their rivals.

Mr Balakrishna could not be contacted for his comments on why his wife was contesting.