BENGALURU: JD (S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Monday proved that he still calls the shots in selection of candidates, and chose to field his supporter K.T. Srikante Gowda from south graduates constituency in forthcoming polls to the Legislative Council, much to the chagrin of dissident legislators led by former minister N Cheluvarayaswamy.
Sources close to Mr Deve Gowda told Deccan Chronicle that Mr Srikante Gowda was given the ticket as part of the veteran leader’s strategy to send a message that he would not buckle under pressure from dissident legislators. Besides, Mr Srikante Gowda has remained a loyal worker of the party and identified himself with Mr Deve Gowda. He campaigned vigorously during ZP/TP polls held recently in his constituency.
On May 14, a group of disgruntled legislators led by Mr N Cheluvarayaswamy, Mr Zameer Ahmed Khan, Mr C Balakrishna, Mr Akhandra Srinivasamurthy had pressurized party leaders to field Mr Jagadish, a close confidant of Mr Cheluvarayaswamy.
State JD (S) president H D Kumaraswamy, who had attended a meeting at the residence of C S Puttaraju, Mandya MP, had promised to speak to Mr Deve Gowda regarding the candidature of Mr Jagadish, soon after his father's return from electioneering in Kerala.
On Monday, Mr Deve Gowda had released a list of his party candidates from all four graduates' and teachers' constituencies which are going for polls next month.
However, Mr Deve Gowda had preferred to go with the old horse, Mr Srikantegowda than the name suggested by a group of legislators. Sources said these legislators were giving sleepless nights to both Mr Deve Gowda and Mr Kumaraswamy by threatening to quit party or skipping meetings.
They constantly criticized Mr Kumaraswamy's style of functioning. The former prime minister, however, has taught a lesson to these dissident legislators by turning down their demand to field a new face instead of Mr Srikante Gowda.
